Blood Glucose
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.3.5
Controlling Blood Glucose Levels
It is important for an organism to keep its blood glucose levels within a small range.
Too little glucose
- Glucose is important for respiration.
- Respiration releases the energy needed by every living cell.
- If there is not enough glucose, an organism cannot produce enough energy.
Too much glucose
- If blood glucose levels are too high, this can have a negative impact on osmosis (movement of water between cells) by affecting concentration gradients.
Test yourself on Blood Glucose
What happens if our bodies do not have enough glucose?
A person eats a meal that is very high in sugar and their blood glucose rises sharply. What is most likely to happen inside their cells as a result?
Why does a shortage of glucose in the blood reduce the amount of energy a cell can release?
What is the key difference between the effects of too little glucose in the blood and too much glucose in the blood?