Normal Insulin Production• Cells needs glucose• Glucose is used by the mitochondria to make

energy (ATP)• After meals, glucose levels in the blood

increase

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

Normal Insulin Production• Cells needs glucose• Glucose is used by the mitochondria to make

energy (ATP)• After meals, glucose levels in the blood

increase

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Normal Insulin Production• But the channels (doors) that allow glucose into

your cells are closed• Your pancreas responds by releasing insulin

into the blood stream

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Normal Insulin Production• But the channels (doors) that allow glucose into

your cells are closed• Your pancreas responds by releasing insulin

into the blood stream

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

i

Normal Insulin Production• Insulin causes the channels (doors) to open• Glucose diffuses into the cells, giving them

much needed nutrition

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

Gii i

i ii

i

ii

i

Normal Insulin Production• Insulin causes the channels (doors) to open• Glucose can diffuse into the cells, giving them

much needed nutrition• Glucose level in blood returns to normal

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cellii i

i ii

i

ii

iG

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Diabetes• Cells needs glucose• Glucose is used by the mitochondria to make

energy (ATP)• After meals, glucose levels in the blood

increase

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

Diabetes• Cells needs glucose• Glucose is used by the mitochondria to make

energy (ATP)• After meals, glucose levels in the blood

increase

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Diabetes• But the channels (doors) that allow glucose into

your cells are closed• A damaged pancreas will often release too little

insulin

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Diabetes• But the channels (doors) that allow glucose into

your cells are closed• A damaged pancreas will often release too little

insulin

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Diabetes• But the channels (doors) that allow glucose into

your cells are closed• A damaged pancreas will often release too little

insulin• Insulin causes only a few channels (doors) to open

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

i

i

Diabetes• Very little glucose can diffuse into the cells• The glucose level in the blood never returns to

normal• Hours later, the next meal adds even more

glucose

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

i

iG

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

Diabetes• Very little glucose can diffuse into the cells• The glucose level in the blood never returns to

normal• Hours later, the next meal adds even more

glucose

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

i

iG

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G G

G

G

GG

G

G

G G

GG

GG

G

G

G

G

GG

GG

G

GG GG G

G

G

G

G

G G

G

G

Diabetes• Ironically, the cells begin to starve even though

food is nearby• The blood becomes acidic• Negative effects: heart disease, high blood

pressure, stroke, death

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

i

iG

GG

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

G

GG

G

G

G G

GG

GG

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

GG GG G

G

G

G

Diabetes Treatment• Insulin injections

Blood

cell cell cell cell cell

cell cell cell cell cell

i

iG

GG

GG G

iiiiiiii

But where do we get the insulin

from?

G

G

G

G

G

GG

G

G

G

G G

G

G

GG

G

G

G G

GG

GG

G

G

G

G

GG

GGG GG GG