Blood Glucose Regulation and Diabetes

This lesson covers how the body regulates blood glucose concentration and the causes and treatments of diabetes, as required by the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specification (8464). Blood glucose regulation is one of the most important examples of homeostasis and negative feedback.

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Why Must Blood Glucose Be Controlled?

Blood glucose concentration must be maintained within a narrow range:

• Too high (hyperglycaemia) — can damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs over time; can be immediately dangerous in extreme cases.
• Too low (hypoglycaemia) — cells cannot carry out respiration, leading to weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and potentially death.

The pancreas is the organ responsible for monitoring and regulating blood glucose concentration.

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The Role of the Pancreas

The pancreas contains specialised cells that continuously monitor the concentration of glucose in the blood and respond accordingly: