Diabetes Flashcards
Where is insulin synthesised?
β-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
What stimulates insulin synthesis?
Increase in blood glucose
What is the action of insulin?
Promote cellular K+ uptake
Promote glucose uptake in muscle and adipose
Promote glycogen synthesis
What is the name of the transporter that insulin moves into muscle and adipose through?
GLUT-4
Where is glucagon synthesised?
α-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans
What stimulates glucagon release?
Low blood glucose
What are the main actions of glucagon?
Promote lipolysis
Promote glycogenolysis
Promote gluconeogenesis
Where is somatostatin synthesised?
δ-cells of the pancreatic islet of Langerhans
What is the role of somatostatin?
Inhibits both insulin and glucagon secretion by paracrine action
What is type 1 diabetes?
Absolute insulin deficiency as a result of autoimmune destruction of the beta-cells of the pancreas
What are the clinical features of type 1 diabetes?
Glucose in urine
Dehydration (water follows glucose in kidney)
Blurred vision (elevation in intraocular glucose)
How do you treat type 1 diabetes?
Insulin replacement
What is the most common cause of hypoglycaemia?
Side effect of insulin therapy
What is HBA1C and what is its measurement useful for?
HBA1C = Glycosylated haemoglobin
Good to measure the average blood glucose over the preceding 2-3 months
What is diabetic ketoacidosis?
Low insulin leads to fatty acid breakdown to produce acidic ketone bodies which cause acidosis
