We will continue our work to understand diabetes. Last week we focused on how glucose and other monomers were transported by the blood and absorbed by all the cells of the body. This required that you learn about basic cell membrane structure and function

This week we are going examine how our bodies regulate both the concentration of sugar in our blood and the absorption of sugar into the cells. As you can see from the flowchart below, this involves thinking about organs/organ systems and cells and cell membranes.

Study Guide : here is what we will cover this week.

What is homeostasis?
- What are examples of homeostasis?
- Why is it so essential for our survival?
How do negative feedback loops maintain homeostasis?
- What are the different components of a negative feedback loop?
How does our body control blood glucose concentrations?
- Why is this important? What happens if concentrations get too high or too low?
- What are the roles of the pancreas? The liver? Glucagon? Insulin?
What is cell signaling? What do we mean by the signal, the transduction and the response?
Describe the stages of insulin signaling glucose uptake by GLUT4.

Unit Assessment Questions:

At the end of the Diabetes Unit, you will need to turn in answers to the Unit Assessment Questions. There will be 2-3 of these questions per week, for a total of ~ 7-10 questions on Diabetes. As mentioned before, you are welcome to use your book, notes AND you may work on it with anyone you would like - myself, fellow student, tutor, etc. BUT, your answers MUST be in your own words.

D3. After Eating a Meal

- After you eat a meal, your blood glucose concentrations begin to rise. Describe what happens in our pancreas/liver negative feedback loop in order to bring us back to homeostasis?
- Describe what happens at the cell membrane of your liver making sure to use all of your vocabulary about cell signaling

D4. During and After Exercise

- As you exercise, you are using a lot of energy. Describe what happens in our pancreas/liver negative feedback loop in order to keep our blood glucose levels normal?
- Describe what happens at the cell membrane of your liver making sure to use all of your vocabulary about cell signaling.