osmosis

[chenglorraine]

A high concentration of glucose in the blood can harm body cells as a result of osmosis.
Why is that? 😯

[Oscerot]

It’s been a good year and a half since I’ve dealt with this area of biology, so please don’t take my answer as correct.
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I believe it’s because the concentration gradient of water in the blood to the body cells will be out of proportion, therein the water from the body cells will diffuse via osmosis back into the blood, and as a result the body cells will shrivel and potentially die because of lack of nourishment.

However, even though it doesn’t matter in regards to your question, this scenario cannot really happen because your endocrine system will regulate the blood sugar levels.

[Dr.Stein]

quote chenglorraine:

A high concentration of glucose in the blood can harm body cells as a result of osmosis.
Why is that? 😯

Imagine that you add more sugar, more and more into a glass of water. The viscosity will increase. In our body it means that heart has to pump harder and harder. None wants to get heart failure because of work too hard 😉

[Oscerot]

He was talking about all body cells, not the heart.

[MrMistery]

lol.. yeah.. hip-hip hurray for the pancreas

[chenglorraine]

Thanks for all of your answers! (by the way, I am a she)

[Enzyme]

quote chenglorraine:

(by the way, I am a she)

He he he, my dear chenglorraine ;).

@ Oscerot: But Dr.Stein’s answer is right too. If heart pumps slowly due to an increased blood viscosity, the oxygen transport will be slowed down and cells will take oxygen with difficulty (and body cells need oxygen for respiration). As a consequence, it would affect to cardiac muscle and could finish in heart failure.

[Oscerot]

Oh I see, I guess I was just looking at the immediate effect and not how it would indirectly affect other cells.

Thank you. 🙂

But either way it doesn’t seem likely to happen unless you’re a diabetic who isn’t taking his or her insulin and you have a problem with your kidneys.

[Enzyme]

quote Oscerot:

But either way it doesn’t seem likely to happen unless you’re a diabetic who isn’t taking his or her insulin and you have a problem with your kidneys.

Mmmm… It is difficult but not imposible ;).

See ya! 😉

[chenglorraine]

Imagine if your blood glucose level remains fatally high – coud you actually die?

[Enzyme]

When glycemia rises, the excess of glucose acts directly in the islets of Langerhans to increase the insulin production. The glycemia shouldn’t be so high because the glucose is the responsible of the osmotic pressure of the extracellular liquid and if its concentration becomes high, it could produce cell dehydration. As consequence, glucose could be excreted in the urine (that fact produces disorders in kidneys) and the organism could lost its liquids. It would be a real trouble…

[sachin]

quote chenglorraine:

Imagine if your blood glucose level remains fatally high – coud you actually die?

Ya, Hyper Glycemia. Long exposure cause many problems….refer Dr.Stein and enzyme, others too….

[Enzyme]

[quote="sachin_at_biog"]Ya, Hyper Glycemia. Long exposure cause many problems….[quote]

Exactly ;).

[sachin]

hummmmmmmm it is…

[Author]

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