Interactive Resources for Schools
This topic takes on average 55 minutes to read.
There are a number of interactive features in this resource:
Biology
Human biology
Science
The simplest way to detect diabetes is to look for glucoseglucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar).
in the urine. A glucose test stick changes colour to indicate the level of glucose.
People with diabetes regularly monitor their blood glucose level by using a digital monitor. A drop of blood is placed on a test strip and the monitor displays the blood glucose concentrationconcentration
The amount of a substance (solute) in a solution.
.
To confirm diabetes, a person will normally take a glucose tolerance test in a hospital.
Patients do not eat for 12 hours before the test. This gets their blood glucose to its lowest level. They are then given a drink containing 75g of glucose and their blood glucose level is monitored over the next two hours.
Every cell in the body needs a supply of glucose to maintain respiration and generate energy for all of its processes. Levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood are closely controlled by two hormones; insulin and glucagonglucagon
A hormone produced by the pancreas. It allows cells in the body to generate and release glucose. Its effect is opposite to that of insulin.
.
Use the animation to see how the body responds to high and low blood sugarblood sugar
The sugar (glucose) dissolved in the blood; the normal range is 4.0 - 7.8 mmol/l.
levels: