Regulation of Blood Glucose in the Human Body

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Regulation of blood glucose in the human body
Cannon (1989) used the term homeostasis to describe the consistency of the internal environment and the regulatory integrated mechanisms are directed to maintain it. He also stated that it was how the system responded to an emergency by trying to meet the sudden external demands which have been placed upon the human body (1). Homeostasis is important within the human body because it maintains the optimum environment required for various processes to occur. The human body cells are able to acquire energy from lipids; however nerve cells (neurons) rely completely on glucose. Therefore, the regulation of blood glucose it is human body is necessary to ensure the functioning of the nervous system as well as allowing cellular respiration to occur. (2)
Glucose is an organic molecule will provide an energy source towards the metabolic activities of the human body. It is also a key source of carbon skeletons for biosynthesis. The energy stored with the glucose molecule is released via a process called glycolysis. Glycolysis occurs during respiration. When it is fully broken down, glucose is converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This allows manageable amount of energy to be released to power the various biochemical reactions which occurs.
The two main hormones which are used to regulate the concentration of the blood glucose concentration are insulin and glucagon. In figure 1, it shows how the insulin and glucagon are able to regulate the blood glucose levels. Insulin decreases the blood glucose concentration while glucagon increases it; therefore they are known as the antagonistic hormones as they are opposites. If the blood glucose concentration is above 70-110mg/100mL, the beta cells ...

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...r. This was then repeated after 60 minutes however during this time the participant would have consumed 600ml of water. One of the readings on the Urilux stick showed whether there was glucose present within the urine. The table below show the results collated from the class data.

Glucose (GLU) mg/dl
0 After 60 minutes
1 Norm Norm
2 Norm Norm
3 Norm Norm
4 Norm Norm
5 Norm Norm
6 Norm Norm
7 Norm Norm
8 Norm Norm
9 Norm Norm
10 Norm Norm
The results show that after the consumption of 600ml of water, the participants had the expected amount of glucose within their urine. This shows that none of the participants are undiagnosed / untreated diabetic. This can be induced because glucose was not found in the urine. Within diabetic, glucose would be present as the body is unable to utilize the glucose therefore removes it from its system as it is unable to retain it.

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