Diabetes and Homeostasis

Glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas which helps bring glucose into cells

Glucagon

A hormone produced by the pancreas which helps put glucose into the blood stream

Homeostasis

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

Pancreas

An organ that regulates the level of sugar in the blood

Blood sugar

the concentration of glucose in the blood.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide (branched chain of glucoses) found in the liver and muscle of animals; storage of glucose

Disaccharide

A sugar with two monosaccharides joined together (ex: sucrose and lactose)

Monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule; the simplest type of sugar (ex: glucose, fructose, galactose)

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides (ex: starch, cellulose aka fiber, glycogen)

insulin resistance

the inability of the cells to respond to insulin