Week 2 - Glucose Regulation Flashcards
define glucose regulation
- process of maintaining OPTIMAL blood glucose levels
what 3 main factors interact to maintain glucose regulation?
- caloric intake (ie. food)
- hormones
- glucose uptake (by the cells for energy)
list 3 examples of hormones that play a role in glucose regulation
- insulin
- cortisol
- glucagon
what is euglycemia? what is the value?
- normal conc of glucose in the blood
- 4-7 mmol/L
describe normal glucose homeostasis; what happens when we eat to maintain our BG
- we eat & carbs are broken down into simple sugars called glucose which is absorbed into the blood
- elevations in blood glucose stimulate pancreatic cells to secrete insulin
- insulin allows glucose to enter the cell –> BG goes back down
what are 2 ways glucose can be used after insulin release?
- for energy by cells (ATP)
2. stored in the liver and fat cells as glycogen
what is stored glucose called?
- glycogen
what is glucagon
- hormone released when BG is too low
what does the release of glucagon cause?
- stimulates the liver to breakdown glycogen to glucose (glycogenlysis) = increased BG
what is glycogenolysis
- process by which glycogen is converted to glucose
what is the function of insulin? when is it released?
- released when we have high BG
- responsible for the transport of glucose from the blood into the cells
what happens if aspects of glucose metabolism malfunction or stop working?
- get hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia
what value is considered hyperglycemia
at or above 11mmol/L
what are the 3 main biomechanical causes of hyperglycemia
- insufficient insulin production or secretion from the pancreas
- insulin resistance
- excess counter regulatory hormone secretion
what can cause insufficient insulin production/secretion?
- damage to the pancreatic beta cells
ex. autoimmune disfunction, from injury or cancer