Question

Type I diabetics (who do not produce insulin at all) rapidly lose weight if insulin is not being injected, no matter how much food is consumed. Explain why.

Answer 1

Answer

In Type I diabetes mellitus, the patient is unable to produce insulin (hormone responsible for glucose uptake by the cells).

• As insuliin is not produced, glucose in the blood is not taken up by the cells of liver, muscle and adipose tissue.
• These cells are unable to use glucose as energy source for production of ATP.
• As a result, the fat is burned from muscles and tissues in the body in order to gain energy. This occurs due to a process called gluconeogenesis when liver synthesize glucose from lactate or amino acids.
• In order to stimulate glucose uptake, insulin must be injected.
• If insulin is not administered, Type I diabetics will rapidly lose weight due to fat breakdown.