The control of blood glucose levels

Question 1

Why is it important to control blood glucose levels in the body?

Answer 1

Our cells need a constant supply of glucose for respiration.

Question 2

What does insulin do?

Answer 2

Allows glucose to be removed from your blood

Stimulates the conversion of soluble glucose into an insoluble carbohydrate called glycogen. It is stored in the liver and the muscles. Stored glycogen is converted back to glucose when it is needed.

Question 3

What is type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

If your pancreas does not make enough or any insulin.

Question 4

What is type 2 diabetes?

Answer 4

The body stops responding to insulin.

Question 5

When does diabetes develop?

Answer 5

1. Type 1: childhood, teenage years or early adulthood.
2. Type 2: Adulthood- the risk increases with age, so most commonly found in older people.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of diabetes?

Answer 6

1. Type 1 and Type 2: Raised blood glucose levels, tiredness, glucose in the urine, thirst, and lack of energy.

Question 7

What are the main risk factors of diabetes?

Answer 7

1. Type 1: some genetic tendency
2. Type 2: Age, obesity, lack of exercise, some genetic tendency.

Question 8

What hormone is released when the blood glucose levels fall?

Answer 8

Glucagon.

Question 9

What does glucagon do?

Answer 9

Makes your liver break down glycogen, converting it back to glucose, this releases the stored glucose back into the blood.

Question 10

How does the pancreas keeps the blood glucose levels stable using the two hormones?

Answer 10

By using two hormones and the glycogen store in the liver, the pancreas keeps the blood glucose levels fairly constant. It does this by using a negative feedback control, switching between the two hormones.

Question 11

What is a negative feedback system?

Answer 11

When levels of the controlled substance increase or decrease, this is detected. Changes are made that return the levels to normal.