Ch. 13: Blood Glucose Regulation and Diabetes

when blood sugar is too high, ____ is released

insulin

when blood sugar is too low, ____ is released

glucagon

how does insulin regulate blood glucose levels?

if blood glucose is too high, insulin will (1) make cells use glucose or (2) make cells store glucose as glycogen

how does glucagon regulate blood glucose levels?

if blood glucose is too low, glucagon will go into the liver and break down some of the glycogen into glucose

where is glycogen stored?

in the liver

where are insulin and glucagon made?

in the pancreas

About what percent of the US population has diabetes?

1 in 10 → 10%

in general what is diabetes?

blood glucose levels are not regulated properly because of issues with insulin

if blood glucose gets too high, what will happen?

it will damage organs

describe the causes of type I and type II diabetes

type I: an autoimmune disorder where the body destroys cells that make insulin in the pancreas. may be genetics or environmental factors but ultimately unpreventable

type II: the body can make insulin, but the cells ignore it. Causes: genetics, but mostly lifestyle choices: poor diet, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese

how common is each kind of diabetes?

type I: is not very common, 5-8% of people who have diabetes have type I

type II: very common, 90-95% of people who have diabetes have type II

what is the common age for diagnosis of type I and type II?

type I: childhood/teenage years, typically below 40

type II: typically over 40, but is becoming more common in children/teens due to increasing obesity trends

what are some of the risk factors for type II diabetes? do you have any control over any of these?  contrast this with type I, does a person with type I diabetes have any control over it?

type II: genetics, but mostly lifestyle choices: poor diet, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese. may be reversed.

type I: mostly genetics and really can’t be prevented. permanent and must take insulin for life.

how is each kind of diabetes treated?

type I: taking insulin, blood sugar checks, healthy meals, more exercise

type II: healthy eating, more exercise, sometimes oral meds, blood sugar checks, insulin is a last resort

what are some complications associated with having diabetes?

high blood pressure, nerve damage, stroke, numbness in limbs, amputations, heart attack, kidney damage, trouble urinating, eye damage

we discussed fasting glucose and A1C in blood chapter.  what would the range be for these in order to be diagnosed with diabetes?

A1C: 6.5%

FBG: 126 or higher

healthy fasting blood glucose levels are between ___ and ____, but it’s best if they’re below ___

80 and 120, best if below 100

type I and type II diabetes have very different _____ but very similar _____

causes, symptoms