Type II Diabetes and Obesity

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Type II diabetes and obesity, providing definitions for critical vocabulary from the lecture notes.

Ghrelin

A hormone that increases hunger, released from the stomach.

Leptin

A hormone that suppresses hunger, released from fat cells.

Insulin

A hormone that regulates blood glucose levels, promoting glucose uptake into cells.

GLUT4

Glucose transporter activated by insulin to increase glucose uptake in tissues.

Carbamylation

A post-translational modification of proteins that may alter their function.

Glycosylation

The process of adding sugar molecules to proteins or lipids, affecting their function.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure of body fat based on height and weight.

SLC16A11

A gene linked to diabetes that alters lipid metabolism.

TCF7L2

A transcription factor involved in insulin secretion regulation.

Type II Diabetes

A chronic condition resulting from insulin resistance, often linked to obesity.

Metformin

A medication that improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose production in the liver.

Autophagy

The process by which cells degrade and recycle their components.

Triglycerides

A type of fat (lipid) found in the blood, elevated levels can indicate diabetes risk.

Silent

Referring to conditions that may exist without noticeable symptoms, such as some types of diabetes.

Missense mutation

A type of genetic mutation that leads to a single amino acid change in a protein.

Insulin receptor

A protein that mediates the effects of insulin on target cells.

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar levels, often a symptom of diabetes.

Lipogenesis

The metabolic process of converting carbohydrates into fatty acids for storage.