Young Voices The Biology Of Diabetes printable pdf download

Young Voices The Biology Of Diabetes

Lesson 4: The Biology of Diabetes

Inquiry

Focus: Who can have diabetes?

Student Learning

Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to do the following:

•

Describe diabetes as a disorder of insulin production or response by the cells to insulin

•

Explain the biological difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

•

Explain what is understood about the causes of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

•

Describe the effect of diabetes on blood glucose levels

•

Describe how high and low blood glucose levels affect the body

•

Explain what biological processes are replaced with blood glucose testing and insulin

injections

Time

Frame: 1 – 2 Class sessions

Materials:

• Simple pan balance and inexpensive sets of weights; variety of small objects that can be

weighed using those weights (multiple balances and sets if activity is done by small groups)

• Body Atlas: Diabetes – interactive from web site

• Video clip: “Diabetes” from Behind the News: Medical Marvels

• Video clip: “Connection Between the Pancreas and Insulin” from Biologix: The Pancreas

Teacher Background Information:

• Glucose is the body’s preferred currency for energy. Insulin is released from the pancreas to

signal cells to take up glucose when the blood glucose is high (hyperglycemia), which results

in a lower blood glucose. Glucagon is another hormone released from the pancreas to cause

the liver to free stored glucose in response to low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).

• Diabetes is a disorder where either not enough insulin is made or the body does not

appropriately react to the insulin that is produced.

• This is what happens with Type 1 diabetes; in Type 1 diabetes the body does not make insulin.

The cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown, but in many people with the disease it appears that

136672F

Young Voices The Biology Of Diabetes