Homeostasis: Sugar Control

Question 1

What happens when the blood glucose levels are too high?

Answer 1

The pancreas secretes insulin which makes the liver convert the glucose into glycogen, storing it and removing it from the blood.

Question 2

What is type 1 diabetes caused by?

Answer 2

> little to no insulin produced by pancreas, meaning that blood glucose levels can rise to fatal levels.

Question 3

What are the solutions to type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

> strict non-simple carbohydrate diet

> exercise after meals to try to use up some of the glucose (not v. Practical)

> insulin injections during mealtimes

> pancreas transplant

Question 4

How do insulin injections solve type 1 diabetes?

Answer 4

> the insulin acts in the same way as in a healthy person, removing the glucose as soon as it enters the blood after digestion.

Question 5

What is the problem with a pancreas transplant?

Answer 5

> immunosuppressant drugs

> surgery

> not 100% effective

> risk of infection from donor

Question 6

What happens when the blood sugar is too low?

Answer 6

Glucagon is secreted by the pancreas, this makes the liver convert the glycogen back into glucose which is released into the blood.