MediumBiologyHigh School (9–10)GeneralHuman Body › Hormones and the Endocrine SystemConceptualapplication
Two people drink the same sweet drink at 8 am.
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Two people drink the same sweet drink at am. Their blood sugar, in mg/dL, is measured every hour. Person P: , , , , . Person Q: , , , , . Which person most likely has diabetes? Explain with insulin and feedback.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Endocrine glands release hormones into the blood. The pituitary makes growth hormone, the thyroid makes thyroxin (which needs iodine), the pancreas makes insulin (which lowers blood sugar), and the adrenal glands make adrenaline (which prepares the body for danger). Feedback keeps each level right.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Person P. The level rises after the drink and falls back near within three hours. The pancreas released insulin, the cells took in the sugar, and then less insulin was made.
Step 2. Person Q. The level rises much higher and stays above for four hours.
Step 3. The cause. Too little insulin, or insulin that does not work, so the cells cannot take in the sugar.
Answer: person Q most likely has diabetes, because the sugar stays high: the insulin feedback is not bringing it back to normal.
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