Glucose, Glucagon and Insulin & Diabetes Pathogenesis

Flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to glucose metabolism, insulin, glucagon, and diabetes pathogenesis.

Glucose homeostasis

The mechanism that regulates blood glucose levels.

Insulin

A hormone produced by β cells in the pancreas that promotes glucose uptake and storage.

Glucagon

A hormone produced by α cells in the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by promoting glycogenolysis.

Islets of Langerhans

Clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.

Type 1 Diabetes

A condition caused by autoimmune destruction of β cells leading to insulin deficiency.

Type 2 Diabetes

A metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Glycogen

A stored form of glucose primarily found in the liver and muscles.

GLUT4

Type 4 glucose transporter activated by insulin to facilitate glucose uptake in muscles and adipose tissue.

Hyperglycemia

An excess of glucose in the bloodstream, commonly associated with diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus

A group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood glucose (sugar).

Glycosylated hemoglobin

A form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods.

Insulin therapy

The administration of insulin to manage blood glucose levels in diabetes.

Metformin

A medication that improves insulin sensitivity and decreases liver glucose production, used primarily in type 2 diabetes.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

A class of medications that increase insulin sensitivity in cells.

Sulphonylureas

A class of medications that increase insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells.

Amino acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins and can stimulate insulin secretion.

Gluconeogenesis

The metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates.

Vascular complications

Health issues affecting blood vessels as a result of chronic diabetes, including retinopathy and nephropathy.

Gestational diabetes

A form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth.

PPARγ

A nuclear receptor that regulates adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis.

Endocrine glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.