Glucose Tolerance Flashcards
List 6 major energy sources for body tissues
Glucose FAs AAs Pyruvate/lactate Glycerol Ketone bodies
Explain “caloric homeostasis”
When the metabolic processes in a body ensure the overall maintenance and balance of different fuel sources, the body is in a state of caloric homeostasis
What is the ideal range for blood glucose?
3.9-5.6mM
What is the ideal range for energy sources excluding glucose?
Most (e.g. lactate, FAs, ketone bodies) can vary over an enormous range
List the major users of glucose
Brain
RBCs
Skeletal muscle
Why is strict control of blood glucose necessary?
Because the brain has an absolute requirement for glucose as an energy source
At what blood glucose level would hypoglycaemic coma occur? Why?
<1.5mM
Lack of ATP available to brain
List 3 possible consequences of hyperglycaemia
Loss of glucose in the urine
Inappropriate glycosylation of proteins
Hyperglycaemia coma
List 3 processes which increase blood glucose
Absorption of CHOs from the intestine
Glycogenolysis
Gluconeogenesis (glucose production from non-CHO sources)
List 3 processes which decrease blood glucose
Glycolysis
Glycogenesis
Lipogenesis
What is the ideal range for fasting blood glucose in a healthy individual? What is the acceptable range?
- 9-5.6mM
3. 3-7.2mM
Describe the control of blood glucose post-prandially
Dietary glucose is absorbed and transported to the liver via the portal vein
When glucose leaves the liver and enters the systemic circulation, blood glucose increases
Insulin is realised from the pancreatic B cells in response and acts to lower blood glucose
Describe 2 ways in which insulin lowers blood glucose
Decreases the release of glucose from the liver (inhibits glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, and stimulates glycogenesis)
Increases glucose uptake and utilisation by peripheral tissues (e.g. muscle, adipose)
How is blood glucose maintained in the fasting state?
Glucose is predominantly supplied by the liver through breakdown of its glycogen stores and by gluconeogenesis from lactate, glycerol and AAs (small amount is contributed by kidney)
Why can liver and kidney produce glucose, but not skeletal muscle?
Liver and kidney contain the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase, necessary for the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to glucose