glucose and insulin physiology (mini learning) Flashcards
What do all tissue use glucose as ?
Their primary source of energy
What is different about the interaction between the CNS and glucose ?
CNS cannot substitute glucose, so delivery is therefore critical
How is glucose stored ?
as glycogen
Where is glycogen stored, primarily ?
- the liver
- muscle
What is considered the normal
a) fasting blood-glucose range ?
a) post-prandial blood glucose range ?
- 4-6 mmol/L (fasting)
- 8 mmol/L (2hrs post eating/post-prandial)
What blood glucose level is considered hyperglycaemia ?
>10 mmol/L (sustained)
What blood glucose level is considered hypoglycaemia ?
<3 or 4 mmol/L
How much glucose is lost via the kidneys per day ?
<0.3 g
What cells secrete insulin?
beta cells in islets of langerhans (pancreas)
What action does insulin have on blood glucose levels ?
decreases it
Which cells secrete glucagon ?
glucagon = alpha cells in islets of langerhans (pancreas)
What effect does glucagon have on blood glucose levels ?
glucAgon = ^ increase glucose
What state does insulin rectify
a) hypoglycaemia ?
b) hyperglycaemia ?
hyperglycaemia
insulin decreases blood glucose
What state does glucagon rectify
a) hypoglycaemia ?
b) hyperglycaemia ?
hypoglycaemia
glucagon increases blood glucose
What stimulates the release of glucagon ?
low blood glucose levels
usually the fasting state
What stimulates the release of insulin ?
high blood glucose levels
usually the post-prandial state
Which 2 hormones are involved in the endocrine control of glucose homeostasis ?
- insulin
- glucagon
What are the 3 main insulin sensitive tissues ?
- liver
- muscle
- fat (adipocytes)
What are the 3 main glucagon sensitive tissues ?
- liver
- muscle
- fat (adipocytes)
What are the 3 main tissues involved in glucose homeostasis ?
- liver
- muscle
- fat (adipocytes)
What are levels of
a) insulin
b) glucagon
like in the fasting state ?
fasting
insulin = decreased
glucagon = increased
What are levels of
a) insulin
b) glucagon
like in the post-prandial state ?
post-prandial
insulin = increased
glucagon = decreased
What is the action of glucagon in the fasting state ?
- released from alpha cells
- acts on liver to release endogenous glucose
glucose can then travel through blood to act on necessary tissues
What tissue is insulin independent ?
the brain
What is the action of insulin in the ‘fed’ state ?
- beta cells release insulin
- stimulates insulin dependant tissues (muscle and fat) to increase glucose uptake
- turns off endogenous glucose production in the liver (turns off glycogenolysis)
What else is involved in glucose homeostasis alongside insulin and glucagon ?
enteroendocrine cells in small+large intestine
What is the role of enteroendocrine cells in glucose homeostasis ?
- stimulated by glucose/amino acids present in intestines
- produce hormones (GLP-1)
- GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion via beta cells
= reduces blood glucose
What is the main hormone that enteroendocrine cells produce in response to glucose/amino acids in the intestines ?
GLP-1
glucagon-like-peptide-1
Where GLP-1 receptors primarily located ?
on beta cells in islets of langerhans
What are the 2 main effects that GLP-1 has on the body ?
- increase insulin secretion = decrease blood glucose
- induce feeling of ‘fullness’ after a meal
What 2 conditions can GLP-1 agonist drugs be used to treat ?
- diabetes (decreasing hyperglycaemia)
- obesity (inducing a feeling of fullness)
What causes hyperglycaemia?
- impaired insulin secretion
- impaired insulin action
What often causes impaired insulin secretion ?
loss of functioning beta cells
could be due to:
- autoimmune destruction in T1D
- surgery to remove pancreas
- damage to pancreas/pancreatitis
- generic mutations
What often causes impaired insulin action ?
reduced insulin sensitivity
occurs in type 2 diabetes
What is the main difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes ?
Type 1 = loss of insulin secretion due autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Type 2 = loss of insulin action due to defects in release, sensing and/or signalling
What causes hypoglycaemia ?
- excessive glucose utilisation/loss
- excessive insulin secretion levels
- insufficient glucagon secretion levels
What is congenital hyperinsulinism ?
babies are born with either
- too many beta cells
- inability to switch off insulin when glucose is low
What are insulinomas ?
pancreatic beta cells that turn cancerous and overproduce insulin