Glucose, Glucagon and Insulin & Diabetes Pathogenesis

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to glucose, insulin, glucagon, and diabetes pathogenesis, as presented in the lecture notes.

Glucose Homeostasis

The mechanism by which the body maintains stable blood glucose levels.

Insulin

A polypeptide hormone secreted by pancreatic β cells that promotes glucose uptake and storage.

Glucagon

A hormone produced by α cells of the pancreas that promotes glucose release from glycogen stores.

Islets of Langerhans

Clusters of cells in the pancreas that secrete hormones including insulin and glucagon.

Type 1 Diabetes

A form of diabetes caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to low insulin levels.

Type 2 Diabetes

A common form of diabetes caused by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Glycogenolysis

The process of breaking down glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream.

Gluconeogenesis

The metabolic process by which glucose is synthesized from non-carbohydrate sources.

Hypoglycemia

A condition characterized by abnormally low blood glucose levels.

Hyperglycemia

A condition characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels.

PI3K

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, an important enzyme in insulin receptor signaling pathways.

GLUT4

A glucose transporter that is translocated to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, facilitating glucose uptake.

Adiponectin

An anti-hyperglycemic adipokine that improves insulin sensitivity.

Metformin

A medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, which improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose production.

Sulphonylureas

A class of drugs that increase insulin secretion from β cells in the pancreas.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

Drugs that improve insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat tissues.

Amino Acids

Organic compounds that stimulate insulin release from β cells and are essential for protein synthesis.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)

A form of hemoglobin that is chemically linked to glucose, used to monitor long-term glucose control.