Question 1: Define Diabetes Mellitus and distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 in terms of their causes.

Answer: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, leading to insulin deficiency. Type 2 involves insulin resistance and a relative deficiency of insulin, often associated with lifestyle factors.

Question 2: Explain how insulin and glucagon regulate blood glucose levels in healthy individuals.

Answer: Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by promoting the uptake and storage of glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscle. Glucagon raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver, especially during fasting or low blood glucose conditions.

Question 3: What are the main immune-related causes of Type 1 Diabetes?

Answer: Type 1 Diabetes is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Question 1: A patient with Diabetes Type 2 takes 10 units of insulin to lower their blood glucose level from 15 mmol/L to 7 mmol/L. Calculate the amount of glucose (in mmol) this insulin is expected to lower in the blood, assuming 1 unit of insulin lowers blood glucose by approximately 1.5 mmol/L in a 70 kg person.

Answer: Amount of glucose lowered = units of insulin × mmol reduction per unit = 10 × 1.5 = 15 mmol

Question 1: Design a basic outline for an experiment to test the effect of a new drug on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and two safety precautions.

Answer: Independent variable: dosage of the drug. Dependent variable: blood glucose level measured in mmol/L. Safety precautions include: monitoring for adverse reactions and ensuring sterile techniques to prevent infection.

Question 1: A group of 50 diabetic patients is monitored over a month. 30 show improved blood glucose control after implementing a lifestyle intervention, while 20 do not. Describe what conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of lifestyle changes on diabetes management.

Answer: The data suggests that lifestyle interventions are effective for a significant proportion of patients, as 60% showed improved control. However, individual responses vary, indicating that other factors may influence effectiveness.

Question 1: Describe the physiological consequences of untreated Type 1 Diabetes and explain how insulin therapy helps to mitigate these effects. (6 marks)

Answer: Untreated Type 1 Diabetes leads to high blood glucose levels, dehydration, weight loss, and eventually diabetic ketoacidosis due to the accumulation of ketones. Insulin therapy restores normal glucose uptake, prevents ketoacidosis, and maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, thus preventing severe complications.

Question 1: Discuss how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems improve the management of Diabetes Type 1 compared to traditional finger-prick testing.

Answer: CGM systems provide real-time, continuous data on blood glucose levels, allowing for better blood sugar control, early detection of highs and lows, and reducing the need for frequent finger-prick tests, which improves patient convenience and management.