Diabetes I Flashcards
Describe insulin synthesis?
- Insulin is synthesized as pre-pro-insulin and processed to pro-insulin.
- Pro-insulin is then converted to insulin and C-peptide and stored in secretary granules awaiting release on demand
How is insulin secreted?
- glucose from GI tract
- activates GLUT 2 receptors of beta cells
- increase in ATP closes ATP-gated K+ channels to stop it flowing out
- depolarization
- Ca2+ entry and insulin granule exocytosis
- once secreted acts to trigger glucose uptake from blood
Where is insulin produced?
beta cells of pancreatic islets
Describe the biphasic nature of insulin secretion?
- there is a readily releasable pool of insulin filled granules that can be released without nutrients
- there is a reserve pool of insulin filled granules that is strictly metabolic dependent - this acts as the reserve pool
Describe the tissue distribution and function of the GLUT 1 transporter?
- found in most cells
- helps in basal glucose uptake
GLUT 2?
Location and functions
- found in liver, beta cells, hypothalamus, basal lateral membrane small intestine
- carrier for glucose and fructoose in liver and intestine
GLUT 3?
Location and functions
- found in neurons, placenta, testes, brain
- used for basal glucose uptake
GLUT 4?
Tissue distribution and functions
- found in skeletal and cardiac muscle, fat
- activity increased by insulin
GLUT 5?
- found in the mucosal surface in small intestine, sperm, kidneys
- involved in fructose transport
Where does glucose in the blood come from?
- our diet - Sugary foods and drinks, starchy food and carbohydrate are digested and absorbed into the blood as glucose
- gluconeogenesis - glucose is made by the liver and exctreted into the blood
- glycogenolysis - glycogen is broken down releasing glucose into the blood
How is glucose stored?
stored in the muscle as glycogen
How is glucose normally regulated?
- blood glucose rises
- pancreas produces insulin
- tissues of the body remove glucose from the blood and use it or fuel it
- blood glucose falls
What is diabetes?
A disorder of metabolism where the body is no longer able to regulate the glucose (sugar) levels in the blood
- results from defects in insulin secretion, action or both
Consequences of diabetes?
This usually leads to high sugar levels in the blood which ultimately leads to damage of blood vessels and organs of the body.
Pathogenesis of diabetes?
pancreatic beta cell apoptosis
Type 1 diabetes pathogenesis?
Auto-immune reactions leading to islet cells destruction
Type 2 diabetes pathogenesis?
- Genetic predisposition coupled with excessive exposure to glucose and fatty acids (Gluco-lipotoxicity) → oxidative stress in the mitochondria and abnormal folding of protein in the ER
- Glucotoxicity also down-regulates GLUT4 levels in insulin-responsive cells
What goes wrong in diabetes?
- blood glucose rises
- pancreas can not produce insulin or tissues cannot respond to insulin
- tissues of the body have no glucose for fuel
Consequences of raised blood glucose?
- high glucose in the blood passes into the urine
- polyuria, dehydration , thirst - cellular metabolism stops
- weakness, weight loss, fatigue - cells of the body’s immune system cannot work properly
- increased risk of infections - glucose molecules in the blood bind on to proteins lining the blood vessels and damage the blood vessels
- stroke, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, heart disease
Types of diabetes?
- type 1
- type 2
- gestational diabetes
- other
Pathogenesis of type I DM?
- genetic HLA-DR3/DR4/environment/viral infection
- autoimmune insulitis
- antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase and insulin - beta cell destruction
- severe insulin deficiency
Clues to type 1 DM?
- thin
- short history
- ketones ++ in plasma and urine
Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults?
- Slow onset type I DM occurring in the middle aged (> 30 yrs)
- Initially controlled with nutrition and exercise
- Gradually dependent on insulin
Diagnosis of LADA?
- Positive auto-antibodies (Anti-GAD)
- Low C-peptide levels
- Usually no family history