Glucose Homeostasis and Endocrinology Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering glucose homeostasis, pancreatic function, diabetes types, and insulin pathways based on Chapter 78 Systems Physiology.

Fasting blood Glucose [ ]

The concentration range strictly controlled to fall between $70-80\,mg/dl$ and $100-110\,mg/dl$.

Glycemic Response

The effect food has on the concentrations of glucose in the blood.

Glycemic Index

A classification of the impact of dietary carbohydrates on blood glucose levels, using white bread as a reference of $100$.

Glycemic Load

The product of the glycemic index and the grams of carbohydrates contained in a meal.

Acini cells

Exocrine cells of the pancreas that produce and secrete digestive enzymes.

Islets of Langerhans

Endocrine clusters in the pancreas composed of alpha, beta, and delta cells.

Alpha cells

Pancreatic endocrine cells that release glucagon in response to hypoglycemia.

Beta cells

Pancreatic endocrine cells that release insulin in response to hyperglycemia.

Delta cells

Pancreatic endocrine cells that release somatostatin in response to hyperglycemia.

GLUT4

A glucose transporter on adipose and skeletal muscle activated by insulin binding to its receptor; it utilizes passive transport via facilitated diffusion.

Glycogenesis

The pathway stimulated by insulin in the liver and muscle for the synthesis of glycogen from glucose.

Somatostatin

A peptide hormone also known as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone that inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion, as well as the release of GHRH, GH, TSH, and Prolactin.

Glycogenolysis

The liver pathway stimulated by glucagon to break down glycogen into glucose.

Gluconeogenesis

The liver pathway stimulated by glucagon to synthesize glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.

Ketogenesis

The liver process of beta oxidation of fats stimulated by glucagon.

A1c levels

A representation of glucose adhered to blood cells over the past weeks; normal is less than $5.6\%$, prediabetic is $5.7\%$ to $6.4\%$, and diabetic is greater than $6.4\%$.

Amadori rearrangement

An irreversible chemical step in the attachment of glucose to the beta chain of hemoglobin.

Type 1 Diabetes

Occurs when the immune system attacks pancreatic beta cells, typically in people under age $30\,years$, resulting in a loss of insulin production.

Type 2 Diabetes

Occurs when target cells lose the ability to respond normally to insulin, often associated with being overweight and aged $45\,years$ or older.

Reactive Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar that occurs specifically after the consumption of carbohydrate-rich food.

Type 3 Diabetes

A term linking Alzheimer’s Disease to central nervous system insulin resistance, resulting in altered brain metabolism and Amyloid $\beta$ plaque formation.

Tau

A neuron-stabilizing protein that undergoes hyperphosphorylation due to central insulin resistance.

Insulin degrading enzyme

An enzyme that regulates levels of insulin, Amyloid $\beta$ protein, and $A\beta$ precursor protein.