Ineffective Glucose Utilization (Nursing)

00:00 Okay, so you've noticed I've used a lot of repetition in this video series to help you remember key points.

00:07 So I want to throw a question out to you now.

00:09 Let's see what you got.

00:11 What do you think are the two main effects on the metabolism of glucose when insulin usage isn't effective? Pause the video, write yourself some quick notes, and let's see how close you get.

00:27 Okay, the first result of ineffective glucose utilization is an increase in glucose production.

00:34 Whoa!!! Did you get that one? Well, let me explain why, cuz that seems weird.

00:38 Like, why would there be an increase in glucose production? You already have glucose available in the bloodstream? Well, you do but here's the problem.

00:49 The cells in your muscles, your fat, in your liver, don't respond as well.

00:52 They're resistant to the normal function of insulin.

00:57 Take a look at our picture.

00:58 You've got our pancreas. You know what I always say.

01:00 Not attractive, but very efficient organ.

01:03 You've got the triangles, the same ones we saw in the bloodstream that represent insulin.

01:08 Now they're made to fit into an insulin receptor.

01:11 When that receptor binds with insulin opens up this pathway for glucose to go into the cell.

01:19 Well, it would seem like we wouldn't need to make more glucose when we have all this glucose in the bloodstream.

01:26 But the problem is the insulin receptors are impaired.

01:30 Hence the note to you there in the big red circle.

01:33 These receptors are impaired.

01:35 So when the receptors are impaired, they can't utilize the insulin that's available.

01:40 And that's why glucose can't get into the cell.

01:43 So the body registers is this is, "Oh my goodness, we don't have enough glucose, which is the primary source of energy." So I need to pump out the stored glucose.

01:53 That's when your body starts breaking down the stored glycogen into glucose.

01:58 So see why you have extra glucose available besides what's in your bloodstream, because the body can't use it, it registers, it miss reads that thinking, I must not have enough blood sugar.

02:10 So it kicks out it's stored glycogen into glucose.

02:14 That's what causes the blood sugar to rise even more.

02:18 So the first one was an increase in glucose production.

02:22 Did you get that one? The second one is a decrease in glucose utilization.

02:28 So let's see what you remember. Let's give me another chance.

02:31 I want you to see if you can pause the video and see if you can talk through the reasons why the cells aren't using the glucose as effectively.

02:42 Now remember, if you have these risk factors here, this is what's going on with insulin resistance, because they have an increase in glucose production, a decrease in glucose utilization, that equals a very high risk of complications.