Glucose

Regulation

Noadswood Science, 2012

Glucose Regulation

To understand how glucose is controlled within the body

Friday, April 21, 2023

Blood Sugar Levels

Blood sugar levels are controlled to provide cells with a constant supply of energy

Blood sugar level is controlled by the release and storage of glucose controlled by insulin

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone which regulates the amount of sugar in the blood – it converts glucose into glycogen (which can be stored in the liver)

Insulin is produced in the Islets of Langerhans within the pancreas

Insulin

Insulin controls blood sugar levels: - Eating carbohydrates puts a large amount of

glucose into the blood Normal metabolism of cells removes glucose

from the blood Vigorous exercise removes much more glucose

from the blood

It is vital to control the level of blood glucose – the bodies mechanism for adding or removing glucose is via insulin

Insulin & Pancreas

The pancreas monitors and controls the glucose concentration within the blood

The pancreas produced insulin (a hormone) which causes glucose to move from the blood into the cells – lowering the blood [glucose] if it becomes too high

Blood [glucose] can become too high after a meal rich in carbohydrates (sweets; potatoes; bread; rice; pasta etc…)

Blood [Glucose] Too High – Insulin Added

Blood [Glucose] Too High – Insulin Added

Blood [Glucose] Too Low – Insulin Not Added

When blood sugar is too low another hormone glucagon is released (instead of insulin)

Glucagon causes the liver to release glucose into the blood

Blood [Glucose] Too Low – Insulin Not Added

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (type 1) or the effect of the insulin produced is resisted by the body (type 2)

Diabetes results in the individual having blood [glucose] rise to a level which can kill

Diabetes can be controlled via two means: - Avoiding particular foods Insulin injections

Diabetes – Food

Avoiding particular foods rich in carbohydrates (which turn to glucose when digested) can prevent problems

It can also be helpful to take exercise after eating carbohydrates – trying to use up the extra glucose via physical activities (although this is not that practical)!

Diabetes – Injections

Injecting insulin into the blood before meals causes the liver to remove the glucose from the blood as soon as it enters from the gut when the food is being digested

This stops the level of glucose in the blood from getting too high (this is extremely effective)

Dangers Of Diabetes

Glucose is essential for the body – why is excess glucose a danger for people with diabetes?

The ability of the kidneys to absorb glucose is also exceeded, so the excess is excreted in urine

However if this glucose is then used up the body will not have enough glucose, which can result in convulsions /coma

Regular insulin injections and a careful diet can control the condition

Banting & Best

Frederick Banting and Charles Best made an extract from the pancreas in 1921

The extract had anti-diabetic properties, and they tested it successfully on diabetic dogs

The first tests in humans were carried out in 1922, and were a success too – some patients who were in a diabetic coma even recovered

The extract contained the hormone insulin…

Banting & Best Data

Read the passage about Banting and Best, and as a group (per table) answer the questions