Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is the main role of insulin in the body?
What happens to excess glucose after it is not needed for immediate energy?
Which condition is characterized by serum glucose levels lower than 4 mmol/L?
Which of the following is a common symptom of hyperglycemia?
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What can cause diabetes aside from genetics?
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Which hormone is primarily responsible for raising blood glucose levels when energy is required?
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In diabetes management, what is often required to maintain normal glucose homeostasis?
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What is a lesser-known type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy?
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Study Notes
Endocrine System
- Maintains physiological stability
- Influences every cell and organ
- Uses hormones to communicate
- Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream by organs in the endocrine system
- Hormones cause specific physiological effects in their target tissues
Diabetes Overview
- Also known as Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
- Pancreas has two functions:
- Exocrine gland - secretes digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct
- Endocrine gland - secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream
- Pancreas produces two main hormones:
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Both hormones help regulate/balance the storage of glucose
- Normal serum glucose levels are between 4-6 mmol/L
- Excess glucose is stored as glycogen in the liver until needed
- Excess glucose is stored as triglyceride body fat in adipose tissue
- Glucagon is released when more glucose is needed; it breaks down glycogen via glycogenolysis
Insulin
- Insulin stimulates carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism by facilitating the transport of blood circulating glucose into cells, lowering serum glucose
- Insulin helps facilitate conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver for storage when the body has sufficient energy
- Without insulin, blood glucose levels increase because excess glucose cannot be stored.
Diabetes
- Diabetics are unable to maintain normal glucose homeostasis without consideration of diet and/or medications
- Serum glucose < 4 = hypoglycemia
- Serum glucose > 7 = hyperglycemia
- Diabetes is often regarded as a syndrome rather than a single disease
- Diabetes can be caused by a lack of insulin secretion from beta-cells in the pancreas
- Diabetes can be caused by defects in insulin receptors on cells, resulting in insulin resistance
- Two major types of diabetes:
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Less common form of diabetes:
- Gestational
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms
- Hyperglycemia (Serum blood sugar >7 mmol/L)
- 3 Ps:
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Polyphagia
- Glucosuria
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- 3 Ps:
- Hypoglycemia (Serum blood sugar <4 mmol/L)
- Confusion
- Tachycardia
- Diaphoresis (sweating)
- Irritability
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Coma
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