Week 4 Lectorial Questions

We must maintain our blood glucose concentration within a very narrow range. This is particularly important for the function of the brain. The two hormones, insulin and glucagon are responsible for the control of blood homeostasis.

Q1. Explain what the main target for glucagon is and how it works to maintain blood glucose levels. (50 words or fewer) (1 mark)

Q2. Identify the key characteristics of the action of insulin to regulating the GLUT4 transporter. (75 words or fewer) (2 marks)

A 24-year old man goes to his doctor complaining about frequent episodes of fainting. He is overweight and has been since childhood. A blood test shows that he has very low levels of glucose and high levels of insulin. When questioned he says his mother had part of her pancreas removed when she was a child.

Q3. Explain what might be wrong with this patient’s pancreas. (100 words or fewer) (3 marks)

Q4. If we wanted to test pancreatic function using blood tests, propose a kind of test that we might perform. (100 words or fewer) (3 marks) (?)

Q5. In type 2 diabetes, ketosis is not usually a common problem. Explain why it is more common in type 1 diabetes. (75 words or fewer) (1 mark)