glucose, insulin, glycogen + GI + diabetes/type two diabetes

what is the role of insulin

it is produced by the pancreas and helps cells absorb glucose from the blood for energy

what happens to excess glucose in the blood

it is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles (stimulated by glucagon)

what is glycogen

the storage form of glucose in liver and muscle tissue

what is the glycaemic index (GI)

a ranking of carbohydrate foods from 0-100 based on their effect on blood glucose levels

what is a high GI food

GI > 70; breaks down quickly, raises blood glucose rapidly, gives a quick burst of energy

what is a low GI food

GI < 55; breaks down slowly, releases glucose gradually, gives sustained energy

why might a food appear low GI but not healthy

fat lowers GI, so high-fat foods (like chocolate) can have a lower GI but still be unhealthy

why do we need a mixture of GI foods

to provide both quick and sustained energy throughout the day

why is porridge better than cornflakes for type 2 diabetes

porride is digested more slowly, causing a smaller rise in blood glucose

what is diabetes mellitus

a condition where the body cannot maintain normal blood glucose levels

what can untreated high blood glucose cause

kidney damage, eye damage, nerve damage, heart disease

what is type one diabetes

the pancreas does not produce insulin (usually develops in childhood)

what is type two diabetes

the body becomes resistant to insulin or insulin is ineffective (often linked to overweight/obesity)

what is gestational diabetes

diabetes that occur during pregnancy and increase risk of type two diabetes later