Extended Response 1

Question 1

What happens when a meal with a large amount of carbohydrates is consumed

Answer 1

1. Glucose absorbed into blood capillaries of villi of small intestine
2. Hepatic portal vein carries glucose to liver
3. Glucose may be removed from blood by liver to provide energy
4. Glucose may be removed from blood by liver/muscles and converted into glycogen for storage
5. Glucose may continue to circulate in blood, available for body cells to absorb and use as energy source
6. Glucose may be converted into fat for long-term storage if it is in excess

Question 2

Pancreas’ role in regulating blood glucose levels


Answer 2

Alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon
Beta cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin

Question 3

Glucagon


Answer 3

Increases blood glucose levels by stimulating gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, and protein breakdown

Question 4

Insulin


Answer 4

Decreases blood glucose levels by increasing glucose transport into cells, increasing glycogenesis, stimulating protein synthesis, and stimulating lipogenesis

Question 5

Type 1 diabetes


Answer 5

Also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells

Question 6

Type 2 diabetes


Answer 6

Also known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, caused by insulin resistance in cells

Question 7

Lifestyle factors that increase risk of Type 2 diabetes


Answer 7

Lack of physical activity
Overweight or obese
Diet high in fat, sugar, and salt, low in fibre
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Smoking

Question 8

Glucose tolerance test


Answer 8

1. Patient fasts, baseline blood sample taken
2. Patient drinks glucose solution
3. Blood sample taken after 2 hours
4. Blood glucose levels measured and compared to diagnostic thresholds

Question 9

What does glucose tolerance test results not do?

Answer 9

Glucose tolerance test results do not indicate future risk of diabetes complications or response to treatment

Question 10

Hyperglycaemia


Answer 10

Occurs when blood glucose levels get too high, leading to symptoms like frequent urination, increased thirst, blurred vision, and weakness/fatigue. If untreated, can lead to ketoacidosis.

Question 11

Hypoglycaemia


Answer 11

Occurs when blood glucose levels get too low, leading to symptoms like paleness, shakiness, sweating, headache, fatigue, and fast/irregular heartbeat. Severe cases can cause loss of coordination, confusion, unresponsiveness, and seizures.

Question 12

Animal-derived insulin


Answer 12

Supplies were expensive and limited, patients sometimes had allergic reactions or infections, peak activity period was difficult to time with meals, and obtaining insulin required slaughtering animals

Question 13

How genetically engineered microorganisms are used to produce human insulin


Answer 13

1. Human insulin gene removed from human cell using restriction enzyme
2. Plasmid isolated from E. coli using same restriction enzyme
3. Human gene inserted into plasmid to create recombinant plasmid
4. Recombinant plasmid returned to bacteria
5. Bacteria cultured to produce human insulin protein
6. Insulin extracted and used to treat patients

Question 14

Synthetic Insulin Nowadays

Answer 14

Most insulin is now made synthetically using yeast

Question 15

Bacteria used in synthetic insulin

Answer 15

Escherichia coli

Question 16

ketoacidosis

Answer 16

If body cannot use glucose, the body burns fat and proteins instead as they cannot use glucose as an energy source. This causes a build-up of ketones, toxic chemicals produced by the liver when breaking down fats. If ketones continue to build-up in the body, ketoacidosis can result, which untreated can lead to total homeostatic disruption, coma and death.

Question 17

pre-diabetes range


Answer 17

pre-glucose levels being 6.1-6.9, after glucose levels being 7.8-11.0

Question 18

diabetes range


Answer 18

pre-glucose levels being ≥7, after glucose levels being ≥11.1

Question 19

Glucose concentration in solute


Answer 19

75g of glucose in 250-300mL water

Question 20

Type 2 diabetes treatment


Answer 20

There is no cure, but there are management programs to help keep blood glucose levels within a normal range through a careful diet, regular physical activity, a healthy weight, medication and blood glucose level monitoring.

Question 21

Type 2 diabetes complications


Answer 21

This means their cells usually do not take up glucose from their blood, leading to high amounts of glucose in the blood. High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels, which can lead to blindness, kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, loss of sensation, and ulcers and ganglions.

Question 22

Type 1 diabetes treatment


Answer 22

However, as the person’s body usually still can respond to insulin, the common management of Type 1 diabetes is with regular insulin injections or with a programmable pump which provides a continuous supply of insulin under the skin.