Life Sciences Gr.11 Lesson 30 Homeostatic Control of Blood Glucose Levels

Life Sciences: Homeostatic control of blood glucose
levels
Grade 11
Lesson 30
Presenter: Dr. Grizelda van Wyk

HOMEOSTASIS
Homeostasis
The ability of an organism to maintain stability of internal conditions (e.g.
temperature, chemical balance) despite changes in its environment.
Negative feedback mechanisms
Mechanisms in the human body that detect changes or imbalances in the

internal conditions and restore homeostasis.
HOMEOSTASIS
The following is a general sequence of events in a negative feedback
mechanism:
Step 1: An imbalance is detected.
Step 2: A control centre is stimulated..
Step 3: Control centre responds.
Step 4: Message sent to target organ/s.
Step 5: The target organ responds.
Step 6: It opposes/reverses the imbalance.
Step 7: Balance is restored.
HOMEOSTASIS OF BLOOD GLUCOSE
• Blood glucose refers to the amount of glucose in the blood.
• Glucose is absorbed into the blood from the digestive system.
• Glucose found in the blood is taken up by the body’s cells to be used for cellular
respiration which releases energy.
• If blood glucose levels are too low, the body cells cannot release enough
energy and the body cannot function at its best.
• If blood glucose levels are too high, water is drawn out of the cells and into
the bloodstream.
• This results in dehydration of the cells and therefore dehydration of the body.
• The pancreas monitors the amount of glucose in the blood.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK: BLOOD GLUCOSE
• After a meal, blood glucose levels will increase because more glucose is
absorbed from the small intestine into the blood.
• The pancreas detects an increase in blood glucose and releases the
hormone insulin.
• Which causes the glucose to be converted into glycogen.
• Glycogen is stored in the liver and skeletal muscles in the body.
• The body cells are also stimulated to take up glucose.
• This lowers the blood glucose level and returns it to normal.
• Blood glucose levels decrease because the body cells are constantly
using glucose for cellular respiration.
• When blood glucose levels decrease, the pancreas will release the
hormone glucagon which converts stored glycogen (from the liver and
skeletal muscles) into glucose.
• This increases the blood glucose level and returns it to normal.
DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels
resulting in increased fatigue (tiredness), dehydration and lack of energy.
ACTIVITY 1
An oral glucose tolerance test is used to determine if a person is diabetic. This test was
performed on two people. After fasting for 12 hours, each person was given the same
glucose solution to drink and then their blood glucose levels were measured every 30
minutes for two hours. The results of the investigation are shown below:
ACTIVITY 1
Which patient is diabetic?
Patient 2 ✓
ACTIVITY 1
Give two reasons for your answer in question
1. (2)
Patient 2 has an elevated blood glucose level even
after 120 minutes have passed since the
administration of glucose ✓
whereas Patient 1’s blood glucose
has returned to normal ✓
ACTIVITY 1
How long does it take for the blood glucose of
patient 1 to return to normal? (1)
Approximately 120 minutes ✓

ACTIVITY 1
What is the name of the hormone that:
a) increases blood glucose levels? (1)
Glucagon ✓
b) decreases blood glucose levels? (1)
Insulin ✓
ACTIVITY 1
The graph below shows the results of a glucose tolerance test on a healthy individual (Person A) and
on a diabetic (Person B). After fasting for ten hours they each were given a drink of glucose solution
containing 50 g glucose. The amount of glucose in their blood was then measured every 30
minutes for the next 3 hours.
What effect would injecting insulin into the diabetic
person have on the results of the test? (2)
Regular injections of insulin would lower the blood

glucose
concentration of the diabetic to normal. ✓
It will also shorten the time it takes for the blood glucose
concentration to return to normal after ingestion. ✓
ACTIVITY 1
The graph below shows the results of a glucose tolerance test on a healthy individual (Person A) and
on a diabetic (Person B). After fasting for ten hours they each were given a drink of glucose solution
containing 50 g glucose. The amount of glucose in their blood was then measured every 30
minutes for the next 3 hours.
Explain briefly why insulin, which is a protein, is
injected into a diabetic person, rather than given
orally. (2)
Insulin is a protein and therefore digested in the human
digestive system.✓
It would therefore not be absorbed as insulin, but as its
amino acids.✓
THANK YOU

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Life Sciences: Homeostatic control of blood glucose

Presenter: Dr. Grizelda van Wyk

Negative feedback mechanisms

Mechanisms in the human body that detect changes or imbalances in the

Approximately 120 minutes ✓

b) decreases blood glucose levels? (1)

Regular injections of insulin would lower the blood

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