GCSE Biology · Edexcel 1BI0 · Topic 7C
Blood glucose and diabetes
Key points
- Blood glucose concentration is kept steady by the pancreas.
- When blood glucose is too high, insulin is released; it makes liver and muscle cells take in glucose and store it as glycogen.
- Higher tier: when blood glucose is too low, glucagon is released; it makes the liver turn glycogen back into glucose.
- Type 1 diabetes: the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Treated with insulin injections and careful diet.
- Type 2 diabetes: body cells no longer respond properly to insulin. Linked to obesity; managed with diet, exercise and sometimes medication.
- Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes; use BMI or waist-to-hip ratio to assess it.
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Cells need a steady supply of glucose for respiration, but blood glucose rises after every meal. This sub-topic shows how the pancreas keeps it within safe limits and what goes wrong in diabetes.
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