Blood Glucose Homeostasis

Question 1

What is the distribution of glucose in the fasted state? (What % goes to which organ)

Answer 1

50% - brain
20% - oxidized in tissues
20% - muscle, where it is broken into actate
10% - RBCs

Question 2

What metabolic processes are body’s source of glucose during the fasted state?

Answer 2

Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis (from liver)

Question 3

What is distribution of glucose in fed state? (What % goes to which organ)

Answer 3

25% - brain

75% - oxidation and storage

Question 4

What metabolic processes are body’s source of glucose during fed state?

Answer 4

Glucose from gut
Gluconeogenesis (slowly)
No glycogenolysis! (glycogen synthesis is happening in muscle and liver)

Question 5

What are the following hormonal responses to acute hypoglycemia? Epi/NE, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone

Answer 5

• EPI/NE- adrenals increase production
• Glucagon - eventual sharp rise
• Cortisol - Slower increase
• Growth hormone - slow increase, but does so before cortisol so that GH can exert its effects before cortisol inhibits it

Question 6

In Type I diabetes, what types of cells are destroyed as a result of autoimmune dysfunction? What conditions/processes does the absolute lack of insulin result in?

Answer 6

Pancreatic beta cells

Hyperglycemia, proteolysis (b/c no anabolic effect from insulin), more lipolysis –> diabetic ketoacidosis

Question 7

How does diabetic ketoacidosis occur?

Answer 7

• Insulin deficiency –> more lipolysis
• Lipolysis –> more plasma FFAs, more FAs in liver
• Glucagon excess –> increased activity of carnitine shuttle
• Ketogenesis increases b/c you are sending fats into mitochondria for complete oxidation

Question 8

Which types of diabetes results from insulin resistance?

Answer 8

Type II diabetes

Question 9

In an early stage of type II diabetes, will insulin levels be high or low in the patient?

Answer 9

High b/c there is resistance to insulin, so more is secreted

Question 10

Will you see ketoacidosis in Type II diabetes patients?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Is hypoglycemia acute or chronic? What are some things that cause it?

Answer 11

ALWAYS acute

Liver disease, hormone deficiency, alcohol, insulinoma (tumor that makes excess insulin)

Question 12

What does neuroglycopenic mean?

Answer 12

When blood glucose level is so low neurons can’t function properly