Canonical Question
IV Fluids
Master answer
Immediate
50mls of 50% Glucose = bolus of 25g Glucose
- Hyperglycaemia – normal blood glucose is 4-7 when fasted, <11.1 when not fasted
- Glycosuria – resorption capacity of the renal PCT is exceeded when serum glucose >10-12mmol/l
- resorption of glucose is via co-transport with Na+
Insulin
- Secreted from
- Pancreatic beta cells in islets of Langerhans
- Mechanism of secretion
- Glucose moves into beta cells via GLUT-2 transporters
- Glucose –-(glucokinase)–> Glucose-6-phosphate –-(glycolysis)–> ATP
- ATP inhibits ATP sensitive K+ channels
- Cell depolarises → calcium influx
- Calcium stimulates exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles

- Response
- Insulin release
- Inhibits gluconeogenesis
- Promotes muscular, adipose and peripheral cell glucose uptake
- GLUT-4 transporter
- Promotes hepatic glycogenesis
- Glucose trapping
- Hexokinase phosphorylates glucose (glucose-6-phosphate)
- Negatively charged G6P cannot cross membrane, so is trapped in hepatocyte
- Stimulates glycogen synthase
- Glucose trapping
- Inhibits glycogenolyis
- Inhibits liver phosphorylase
- Promotes FFA synthesis, fat deposition
- Inhibits lipolysis
- Promotes protein anabolism, inhibits catabolism in muscle
- Insulin release
- Fate of glucose
- Glycolysis -> pyruvate
- Pyruvate and CoA -> acetyl CoA -> enters citrate cycle
- FADH and NADH from citrate cycle -> electron transport chain
- Yield from 1 glucose is around 38 ATP
- Pattern
- Biphasic release
- Phase 1: Dumping of preformed insulin
- Phase 2: Drop-off in insulin secretion, then rise up towards a higher peak when new insulin is made
- Biphasic release

Mooney 2016
Exam appearances
| Exam | Exact wording | Relationship | Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008B Q09 | Describe the physiological consequences that follow an intravenous bolus of 50mls of 50% glucose. | historical_member | — |
| 2011B Q01 | Describe the physiological consequences that follow an intravenous bolus of 50mls of 50% glucose. | historical_member | — |