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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe the causes and treatments for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

      Key learning points

      1. The hormone insulin helps to control blood sugar level in the human body.
      2. Insulin is secreted by cells in a gland called the pancreas.
      3. People living with diabetes have problems with controlling their blood sugar level.
      4. The cause and treatments for type 1 diabetes.
      5. The cause and treatments for type 2 diabetes.

      Keywords

      • Hormone - a chemical substance produced by a gland that travels in the bloodstream to a specific organ

      • Insulin - a hormone secreted by the pancreas when blood glucose is too high, lowering blood glucose levels

      • Gland - an organ or tissues that produces and secretes substances, such as hormones

      • Pancreas - a glandular organ in the body that detects changes in blood glucose concentration and secretes insulin

      • Diabetes - a condition in which the body is unable to regulate blood glucose concentration

      Common misconception

      Type 1 diabetes is caused by lifestyle, particularly poor diet.

      The slide deck states that type 1 diabetes is caused by genes or environmental factors and there is a question in task A to assess this. In contrast there is a big focus on lifestyle and obesity being linked to developing type 2 diabetes.

      Teacher tip

      At the end of the third learning cycle there are a few slides to compare type 1 and 2 diabetes; this is a good opportunity to bring together all the learning in the lesson and check for understanding and giving the big picture.

      Equipment

      None required.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which organ in the body detects changes in blood glucose levels?

      liver
      stomach
      Correct answer: pancreas
      small intestine

      Q2.
      Name the hormone that is secreted if blood glucose levels are too high.

      glucagon
      glycogen
      Correct answer: insulin
      starch

      Q3.
      Match each word to the correct definition.

      Correct Answer:hormone,a chemical substance, produced by a gland, that travels in the blood

      a chemical substance, produced by a gland, that travels in the blood

      Correct Answer:gland,an organ or tissue that produces and secretes substances

      an organ or tissue that produces and secretes substances

      Correct Answer:glucose,a sugar that travels in the blood and used for respiration

      a sugar that travels in the blood and used for respiration

      Correct Answer:glycogen,a stored form of glucose found in liver and muscle cells

      a stored form of glucose found in liver and muscle cells

      Q4.
      What are carbohydrates broken down into during digestion?

      amino acids
      fatty acids
      enzymes
      Correct answer: sugars

      Q5.
      Which of the following cause an increase in blood glucose concentration?

      exercising
      Correct answer: eating a meal
      fasting

      Q6.
      What changes does insulin bring about in the body?

      glucose stops being absobed by the liver
      Correct answer: more glucose is absorbed by the liver and stored as glycogen
      blood glucose concentration increases
      Correct answer: blood glucose concentration decreases

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which disease is associated with uncontrolled blood glucose regulation?

      asthma
      influenza
      Correct answer: diabetes
      high blood pressure

      Q2.
      Put these statements in order to show how the body regulates blood glucose levels.

      1 - Pancreas detects high blood glucose levels.
      2 - Insulin is secreted into the blood plasma.
      3 - Liver and muscle cells absorb glucose and covert it to stored glycogen.
      4 - Blood glucose levels decrease back to normal.

      Q3.
      Which are true for type 1 diabetes?

      linked to obesity
      Correct answer: usually presents in childhood and teenage years
      Correct answer: associated with genes and environmental factors
      usually presents in adulthood

      Q4.
      What is the treatment for type 1 diabetes?

      injections with glucagon
      Correct answer: injections with insulin
      lose weight and exercise more

      Q5.
      Which statements are true for type 2 diabetes?

      Correct answer: The pancreas secretes sufficient amounts of insulin.
      Too much glucose is converted to glycogen.
      Correct answer: Cells do not respond to insulin.
      Correct answer: It is linked with obesity.

      Q6.
      Before using medication what is the treatment for type 2 diabetes?

      Correct answer: weight loss through low carbohydrate diet
      Correct answer: regular exercise
      weight loss through high carbohydrate diet
      vitamin supplementation

      To help you plan your 10 combined science lesson on: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...