2 - Glucose Regulation + Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
(103 cards)
What is glucose regulation?
The process of maintaining optimal blood glucose levels
What is euglycemia?
Normal blood glucose (4-7 mmol / L)
Identify the 3 factors that interact to regulate glucose
1) caloric intake
2) hormones (insulin, cortisol, glucagon)
3) glucose uptake by the cells for energy
What is glycogen?
Stored glucose in liver + fat cells
What is gluconeogenesis?
Process by which glycogen is converted to glucose
What is hyperglycemia?
high blood sugar ( > 11 mmol / L)
What is hypoglycemia?
low blood sugar (< 4 mmol / L)
What is glycolysis?
breakdown of glucose to pyruvic acid
What is glucagon?
Glucagon is a glucoregulatory peptide that counteracts the actions of insulin by stimulating hepatic glucose production and thereby increasing blood glucose levels - released when our BG is so low
What is the function of epinephrine in glucose regulation?
when blood glucose levels frop too low - the adrenal glands secrete epinephrine which causes the liver to convert stored glycogen to glucose (gluconeogenesis) thereby raising blood glucose levels
What is the function of GH in glucose regulation?
exerts anti-insulin activity by suppressing insulin’s ability to promote glucose uptake in the peripheral tissues; increases gluconeogenesis in the liver
What is diabetes mellitus?
Disorder of the endocrine clels of the pancreas involving a deficiency of insulin function, either:
- decreased secretion
- insulin resistance
or both
Where are the pancreatic A + B cells located?
In the islets of langerhans
What do pancreatic A cells secrete?
glucagon
What do pancreatic B cells secrete?
insulin
What is insulin?
Insulin is a protein hormone made exclusively by pancreatic B cells.
Why can’t we ingest insulin orally?
Because it is a protein hormone
Once synthesizd, where is insulin stored? How is it secreted?
Stored in vesicles
Secreted via exocyosis when needed
How can we tell if diabetics still have some function in their pancreatic B cells?
We can tell by checking for trace amts of connecting peptide (C-Peptide) in their blood.
People who make their own insulin will have some of this C-Peptide in their blood
Exogenous insulin (by needle) doesn’t have C-Peptide so there won’t be any C-Peptide in someone’s blood who can’t make their own insulin.
What is the primary stimulus for insulin secretion? What are some other stimulants for insulin secretion?
High blood glucose.
Also amino acids + acetylcholine.
What inhibits insulin secretion?
Alpha-adrenergic stimulation
Beta-blockers
How do the pancreatic B cells secrete insulin?
B cells have secretory granules containing stored insulin inside them.
When our blood glucose increases, ATP binds to and inhibits ATP-sensitive potassium channels
Causes the B cell to depolarize which allows calcium to enter the cells which triggers the release of insulin
What is the role of insulin?
Insulin stimulates the conversion of glycogen to glucose + stimulates glucose uptake from the blood into fat and muscle cells
Also stimulates mvmt of potassium into the cells.
what are the 4 types of diabetes?
1) type 1 (IDDM)
2) type 2 (NIDDM)
3) miscellaneous
4) gestational