Diabetes

Question 1

What are Blood Vessels?

Answer 1

They are the conducts that transport blood throughout the body.

They include arteries, veins, and capillaries each with distinct structures and functions

Question 2

What is the Pancreas?

Answer 2

A vital organ located behind the stomach.

Plays a crucial role in the digestive endocrine systems, producing enzymes for digestion and hormones like insulin and glucagon

Question 3

What is the Pancreatic Duct?

Answer 3

A tube-like structure that carries digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine

Question 4

What is the Duodenum?

Answer 4

The first and shortest segment of the small intestine.

Receives digestive enzymes from the pancreatic duct and bile from the gallbladder, aiding in the breakdown of food.

Question 5

What are the Islets of Langerhans?

Answer 5

They are clusters of cells within the pancreas responsible for producing hormones like insulin and glucagon, which are essential for regulating blood sugar levels

Question 6

What are alpha cells?

Answer 6

Located in the Islets of Langerhans.

They secrete glucagon in order to increase blood glucose level in the blood stream

Question 7

What are beta cells?

Answer 7

Located in the Islets of Langerhans

They produce and release the hormone insulin when the blood sugar in the blood stream increases

Question 8

What is the role of insulin?

Answer 8

Insulin is released in response to food intake, signalling the body to utilise or store glucose.

Insulin binds to specific receptor sites on cells, triggering a cascade of signalling pathways that regulate glucose metabolism

Question 9

What happens when insulin binds to its receptor on the cell surface?

Answer 9

Triggers a series of biochemical reactions known as the insulin signal transduction pathway.

Question 10

What does the insulin signal transduction pathway do?

Answer 10

The pathway activates various enzymes and transcription factors that regulate glucose and lipid metabolism within the cell.

Question 11

When insulin has binded to its receptor, what does this cause the receptor to do?

Answer 11

Causes the receptor to autophosphorlyate, recruiting and activating other signalling molecules.

This leads to the translocation of glucose transporter proteins to the cell membrane, facilitating the uptake of glucose into the cell

Question 12

What happens when glucose enters the cell?

Answer 12

Glucose enters the cell through facilitates diffusion after the cell membranes fuses with insulin.

This triggers a cascade of signalling events that regulates glucose metabolism and storage.

Question 12

When glucose has entered the cell, what does insulin do?

Answer 12

Insulin binding to its receptor activates a series of phosphorlyation steps, leading to the translocation of glucose transporters to the cell surface.

This allows glucose to be taken up by the cell for energy production or storage as glycogen.

Question 13

What is the role of glucagon?

Answer 13

• Hormone produced by the pancreas
• When the body lacks food, glucagon is released binding to receptor sites and triggering the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose into the bloodstream
• Glucagon also stimulates the breakdown of stored fat in adipose tissues, providing an alternative energy source when glucose is scarce
• This helps maintain BM levels and prevent hypoglycaemia during periods of fasting or starvation

Question 13

What is the Glucagon Action in relation to Glucagon and Adipose Tissue?

Answer 13

Glucagon promotes the breakdown of triglycerides within adipose tissue into fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 14

What is Glycerol Metabolism?

Answer 14

The glycerol is then taken by the liver, where it can be converted into glucose

Question 15

What is fatty acid metabolism?

Answer 15

The fatty acids released from adipose tissue can be used by the liver to produce ketone bodies, which provide an alternative energy source

Question 16

What is glycogen breakdown?

Answer 16

Glucagon promotes the breakdown of glycogen stored in the liver, releasing glucose into the bloodstream

Question 17

What is Gluconeogenesis?

Answer 17

Glucagon also promotes the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, a process known as gluconeogenesis

Question 18

What is Autoimmune Destruction?

Answer 18

In autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas

Question 19

What is Insulin Deficiency?

Answer 19

This leads to a reduction in insulin secretion, resulting in a state of absolute insulin deficiency characteristic of T1 Diabetes Mellitus

Question 20

What is Insulin Resistance?

Answer 20

In T2 diabetes mellitus, the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, leading to impaired glucose regulation.

Question 21

In T2 diabetes, what is insulin resistance?

Answer 21

The body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, leading to impaired glucose uptake

Question 22

In T2 diabetes, what is Beta Cell Failure?

Answer 22

The pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to overcome the resistance, leading to impaired glucose regulation

Question 23

In T2 diabetes, what is impaired glucose tolerance?

Answer 23

Blood glucose levels rise higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes

Question 24

What is Diabetes Insipidus?

Answer 24

Rare condition characterised by excessive thirst and frequent urination.

Question 25

What is Diabetes Insipidus caused by?

Answer 25

Caused by a d of deficiency antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which regulates water balance in the body

Question 26

What are the two main types of diabetes insipidus?

Answer 26

Central and nephrogenic

Question 27

What is Central diabetes insipidus?

Answer 27

Causes by lack of ADH production in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland

Question 28

What is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?

Answer 28

Causes by the kidney's inability to respond to ADH

Question 29

What is TOFI - Thin on the Outside, Fat on the Inside?

Answer 29

Having excess subcutaneous fat may not necessarily cause diabetes. They key risk factor is a high percentage of visceral fat around the organs, which can lead to organ failure and beta cell dysfunction.

Question 30

What is Visceral Fat Accumulation?

Answer 30

Those with a lean body type can still develop insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes if they have excessive visceral fat deposits around the pancreas, liver, and other vital organs

Question 31

What is Beta Cell Failure?

Answer 31

The build-up of visceral fat can impair pancreatic beta cell function, leading to reduced insulin production and the development of type 2 diabetes even in the absence of obesity

Question 32

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Answer 32

Caused by hormones made by the placenta that prevent the body from effectively using insulin

Question 33

What is insulin resistance

Answer 33

This insulin resistance leads to high blood glucose levels, which can have serious implications for the mother and developing baby

Question 34

What is Screening and Monitoring?

Answer 34

Regular screening and monitoring are crucial for manging gestational diabetes and ensuring the best possible outcomes

Question 35

What does the placenta produce in relation to hormones?

Answer 35

The placenta produces a variety of hormones such as oestrogen, cortisol and human placental lactogen that can inhibit insulin receptors and raise blood sugar levels

Question 36

What does the placenta do in relation to nutrient supply?

Answer 36

The placenta's primary role to supply the foetus with the necessary nutrients for growth and development

Question 37

What is Gestational Diabetes Progression?

Answer 37

As the placenta increases in size during pregnancy, the levels of hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and human placental lactogen also rise. This increased hormone production can lead to greater insulin resistance, raising the risk of developing gestational diabetes