Q 01/05

Which British prime minister takes daily insulin injections for diabetes?

A) Gordon Brown

B) David Cameron

C) Boris Johnson

D) Theresa May

Answer · why

D) Theresa May

Theresa May was first diagnosed with the wrong type of diabetes, and only later did tests show she had type 1.

Q 02/05

Before insulin, which extreme treatment did Frederick Allen use to stretch diabetic patients' lives?

A) Bloodletting

B) Starvation diets

C) Sugar-rich diets

D) Opium pills

Answer · why

B) Starvation diets

Starvation diets kept some patients alive longer before insulin, but some starved to death.

Q 03/05

What effect does insulin have on blood glucose?

A) It converts it to fructose

B) It raises it

C) It lowers it

D) It has no direct effect

Answer · why

C) It lowers it

It promotes glucose uptake into liver, fat and muscle cells, where it becomes glycogen or fat.

Q 04/05

Which hormone from the alpha cells raises blood sugar, the opposite of insulin?

A) Somatostatin

B) Cortisol

C) Glucagon

D) Adrenaline

Answer · why

C) Glucagon

Glucagon makes the liver break down its stored glycogen and release glucose into the blood when sugar levels run low.

Q 05/05

Some athletes misuse insulin in hopes of doing what?

A) Masking pain

B) Staying awake

C) Bulking up

D) Breathing easier

Answer · why

C) Bulking up

Bulking up: but the gamble is dangerous, because too much insulin can drop blood sugar so low that the user loses consciousness.