How might the insulin and glucagon process be different with

How might the insulin and glucagon process be different with someone with type two diabetes?

(the response must be long and very detailed, at least a page long. Thank you!)

Solution

Insulin and glucagon are the two hormones produced by pancreas. They both are chemically protein. But, the physiological actions produced by both the hormones are quite opposite. Insulin reduces the blood glucose level, whereas, glucagon raises the blood glucose level.

Insulin influences glucose metabolism in various tissues, including liver. In liver, it inhibits the glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis) and the synthesis of new glucose molecules (gluconeogenesis) but stimulates glycogen synthesis. Whereas, the effects produced by glucagon are opposite to insulin. So, these hormones act antagonistic to one another to maintain homeostasis.

Type II diabetes mellitus (Type II DM) is non insulin dependent. Means in the patients with Type II DM the beta cells secrete insulin but the insulin cannot bind to the receptor sites to exert its effect. So, the drugs that increase insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake by the muscles (Eg: metformin, glibenclamide) are helpful for these patients. The risk of Type II DM increases with age and obesity. However, because of genetic abnormalities, this occurs in young people and children also (jugunile diabetes).

Thus, in type-II diabetes, the presence of glucagon still increase the blood glucose levels because enough insulin is not available to regulate the blood glucose levels.