Homeostasis - control of blood glucose concentration

Question 1

why is it important to keep concentration of glucose in blood as constant as possible?

Answer 1

as glucose is needed by every cell to release energy by respiration

Question 2

what is the blood glucose concentration controlled by and how?

Answer 2

the pancreas. after a rich meal of carbohydrates, glucose levels will rise which is sensed by the pancreas so produces insulin. This travels in the bloodstream around the body and triggers body cells to take up glucose from the bloodstream around

Question 3

what else does insulin trigger?

Answer 3

liver and muscle cells to store excess glucose as a storage molecule of glycogen

Question 4

what does it mean once glucose is taken out of blood?

Answer 4

means concentration of glucose in blood returns to normal - homeostasis has taken place.

Question 5

how does diabetes link to glucose concentration levels?

Answer 5

Diabetes is where the blood glucose concentration doesn’t work effectively

Question 6

what happens in type 1 diabetes?

Answer 6

their pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin so they monitor their blood glucose concentration. they inject themselves with insulin if blood glucose rises too much

Question 7

what happens in type 2 diabetes?

Answer 7

their body cells stop responding to insulin produced by the pancreas. the blood glucose concentration can rise too high so it is treated with a diet, to control level of carbs to prevent blood glucose concentration from rising too high. they are advised to do exercises.

Question 8

what is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes?

Answer 8

obesity

Question 9

what happens if blood glucose concentration falls?

Answer 9

pancreas will release hormone glucagon into bloodstream which triggers liver cells to convert glycogen stores back into glucose. this is then released into bloodstream which triggers causing concentration to go back to normal

Question 10

why does glucose concentration rise and fall throughout the day?

Answer 10

it is controlled by a balance between insulin and glucagon

Question 11

what has a negative feedback cycle?

Answer 11

insulin and glucagon as they have opposite effects
if glucose concentration rises, pancreas releases insulin causing it too fall. it then falls to a certain level causing pancreas to release glucagon causing concentration to rise again