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Exam questions · Biology · Hormonal Coordination in Humans

Blood Glucose and Diabetes

  • 8 exam questions
  • 26 marks
  • 8 quick checks
  1. 1 State [2 marks]

    State the organ that releases insulin and the organ that stores glycogen.

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    Model answer

    The pancreas releases insulin. The liver stores glycogen.

    Mark scheme

    • Pancreas — 1 mark
    • Liver — 1 mark
  2. 2 Name [3 marks]

    Figure 1 shows how the blood glucose concentration is controlled. Name the parts shown at A, B and C.

    The blood glucose diagram with three parts marked A, B and C.
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    Model answer

    A is the pancreas. B is the liver. C is a hormone, insulin (or glucagon).

    Mark scheme

    • A: pancreas — 1 mark
    • B: liver — 1 mark
    • C: insulin — 1 mark
  3. 3 Explain [4 marks]

    Explain how the body responds when the blood glucose concentration rises after a meal.

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    Model answer

    The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. The insulin makes the liver take up glucose and convert it to glycogen. The blood glucose concentration falls back to normal.

    Mark scheme

    • Pancreas detects the rise — 1 mark
    • Insulin released — 1 mark
    • Liver takes up glucose and stores it as glycogen — 1 mark
    • Blood glucose falls — 1 mark
  4. 4 Compare [3 marks]

    Compare type 1 diabetes with type 2 diabetes.

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    Model answer

    In type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not make enough insulin, but in type 2 diabetes the cells stop responding to insulin. Type 1 is treated with insulin injections, but type 2 is treated with diet and exercise. Type 2 is linked to obesity.

    Mark scheme

    • Type 1: not enough insulin; type 2: cells do not respond — 1 mark
    • Type 1: insulin injections; type 2: diet and exercise — 1 mark
    • Type 2 linked to obesity — 1 mark
  5. 5 Describe [3 marks]

    Figure 2 shows the blood glucose concentration of a person without diabetes and of two people with diabetes after a meal. Describe the differences between the person without diabetes and the person with type 1 diabetes.

    A graph of blood glucose after a meal for a person without diabetes, and for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
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    Model answer

    The person without diabetes starts at about 5 and rises to about 8, then returns to about 5 within 3 hours. The person with type 1 starts higher, at about 10, rises to about 17 and stays above 14. The concentration does not return to normal.

    Mark scheme

    • Without diabetes: peak about 8 — 1 mark
    • Without diabetes returns to about 5 — 1 mark
    • Type 1 starts higher, peaks higher and stays high — 1 mark
  6. 6 Explain [3 marks]

    Explain why a person with type 1 diabetes needs to inject insulin but a person with type 2 diabetes may not.

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    Model answer

    In type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not make enough insulin, so it must be injected. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas makes insulin but the cells do not respond to it. Diet and exercise can make cells respond better, so injections may not be needed.

    Mark scheme

    • Type 1: pancreas does not make enough insulin — 1 mark
    • Type 2: cells do not respond to insulin — 1 mark
    • Diet and exercise can help in type 2 — 1 mark
  7. 7 Explain [4 marks]

    Explain how insulin and glucagon work together to keep the blood glucose concentration constant.

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    Model answer

    When the blood glucose is too high the pancreas releases insulin, which makes the liver store glucose as glycogen, so the concentration falls. When the blood glucose is too low the pancreas releases glucagon, which makes the liver convert glycogen to glucose, so the concentration rises. They have opposite effects, so this is negative feedback.

    Mark scheme

    • High glucose: insulin, liver stores glycogen, concentration falls — 1 mark
    • Low glucose: glucagon, liver releases glucose, concentration rises — 1 mark
    • Opposite effects — 1 mark
    • Negative feedback keeps the concentration constant — 1 mark
  8. 8 Evaluate [4 marks]

    A study finds that type 2 diabetes is more common in countries where more people are obese. A newspaper says that the study proves that obesity causes type 2 diabetes. Evaluate this claim, and suggest one recommendation for people at risk.

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    Model answer

    The study shows a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, but a link does not prove that one causes the other, because other factors such as diet or exercise could cause both. However, the link is supported by other evidence on how cells respond to insulin. People at risk should eat a healthy diet, take more exercise and keep a healthy body mass.

    Mark scheme

    • A link or correlation is shown — 1 mark
    • A link does not prove cause, as other factors could be involved — 1 mark
    • Evidence from other studies supports the link — 1 mark
    • A sensible recommendation, such as diet, exercise or a healthy body mass — 1 mark

Quick check

  1. 1

    Which hormone lowers the blood glucose concentration?

    1. AGlucagon
    2. BInsulin
    3. CAdrenaline
    4. DThyroxine
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    B: Insulin

    Insulin lowers the blood glucose concentration.

  2. 2

    In which form does the liver store glucose?

    1. AStarch
    2. BCellulose
    3. CLipid
    4. DGlycogen
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    D: Glycogen

    The liver stores glucose as glycogen.

  3. 3

    Which organ makes insulin?

    1. AThe pancreas
    2. BThe liver
    3. CThe kidney
    4. DThe stomach
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    A: The pancreas

    The pancreas makes insulin.

  4. 4

    What is the cause of type 1 diabetes?

    1. AEating too much sugar
    2. BLack of exercise
    3. CThe pancreas does not make enough insulin
    4. DCells that respond too much to insulin
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    C: The pancreas does not make enough insulin

    In type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not make enough insulin.

  5. 5

    Which type of diabetes is linked to obesity?

    1. AType 1
    2. BType 2
    3. CBoth equally
    4. DNeither
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    B: Type 2

    Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and lack of exercise.

  6. 6

    How is type 1 diabetes usually treated?

    1. AWith antibiotics
    2. BWith glucagon only
    3. CBy eating more sugar
    4. DWith insulin injections
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    D: With insulin injections

    Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections.

  7. 7

    What does glucagon make the liver do?

    1. ARelease glucose
    2. BStore glucose
    3. CMake insulin
    4. DDestroy glucose
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    A: Release glucose

    Glucagon makes the liver convert glycogen to glucose.

  8. 8

    When is glucagon released?

    1. AWhen blood glucose is too high
    2. BAfter a big meal
    3. CWhen blood glucose is too low
    4. DWhen the body is too hot
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    C: When blood glucose is too low

    Glucagon is released when the blood glucose concentration is too low.