control of blood glucose concentration

why is glucose needed by every cell?

to release energy by respiration.

what is glucose?

a simple sugar molecule.

what is the blood glucose concentration monitored by?

the pancreas

after a meal rich in carbohydrates what can happen to the concentration of glucose in the blood and what is this sensed by?!

it can rise, this is sensed by the pancreas.

what does the pancreas produce?

the hormone insulin

what does insulin do?

insulin travels in the bloodstream all around the body and it triggers body cells to take up glucose from the blood.

what does insulin also trigger?

insulin also triggers liver and muscle cells to store excess glucose as a storage molecule called glycogen.

so because glucose is now being taken out of the blood and stored what happens to the concentration of glucose in the blood?

it returns to its normal level (homeostasis has taken place).

in some people their blood glucose control does work effectively what do they have?

diabetes

what happens in type 1 diabetes?

the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.

how do people with type 1 diabetes monitor their blood glucose concentration?

they inject themselves with insulin if blood glucose rises too much.

what happens in type 2 diabetes?

the body cells stop responding to insulin produced by the pancreas.

how is type 2 diabetes often treated and whats the aim of this?

with a diet containing a controlled level of carbohydrates, the aim of this is to prevent the blood glucose concentration from rising too high.

what are people with type 2 diabetes also advised?

to take exercise

whats a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes?

obesity

if the blood glucose concentration is too low what does the pancreas release?

the hormone glucagon into the bloodstream.

what does glucagon trigger?

glucagon triggers liver cells to convert glycogen stores back to glucose and this glucose is released into the blood, this causes the blood glucose concentration to return to normal.

if the glucose concentration falls to a certain level what does the pancreas release?

the pancreas releases glucagon which causes the glucose concentration to rise again.

because insulin and glucagon have opposite effects on the blood glucose concentration what do scientists say that they form?

a negative feedback cycle.