Ethan Cadaoas, Gigi Zarrehparvar, Peter Nebb, Jackson Mulligan

Blood Glucose Homeostasis Research Article

Abstract:
This test proved that blood glucose homeostasis levels can be achieved. The way it does
this is through the regulation of insulin and glucagon in the pancreas, which are the hormones
that regulate blood sugar levels. A feedback loop of the pancreas sensing glucose concentration
and the hormones working is used to maintain homeostasis. The procedure is straightforward,
only requiring few things. Use the prick to poke your finger and use the meter to measure, drink
some Yerba Mate, and wait a few minutes to measure again. The results show that the blood
sugar levels start at a stable condition before spiking up after drinking the Yerba Mate. It then
falls back down to normal levels. This shows that homeostasis of blood glucose levels was
achieved because the body ingests extra glucose and then stores it in glycogen to balance
everything out.
Introduction:
Blood glucose in the human body is regulated by homeostasis. The means of which this is
done can be described as a series of negative feedback loops. The organ responsible for this is
the pancreas, which houses the hormones, insulin and glucagon, which regulates blood glucose
levels. A balance of these two hormones helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level of about 100
mg/dL and is needed for homeostasis. Insulin helps to lower blood glucose by storing it in
glycogen and glucagon helps to raise blood glucose by turning glycogen back into glucose. The
feedback loop begins when glucose is ingested and detected in the pancreas. The pancreas then
senses the glucose levels and if it senses high blood sugar, beta cells in the pancreas that carry
insulin, begin to make more insulin and reduce the production of glucagon. If the pancreas
senses dangerously low blood sugar levels, then the alpha cells in the pancreas that carry
glucagon, create more glucagon and reduce the production of insulin. Once glucose levels have
returned to homeostasis, the balance of insulin and glucagon production is balanced as well.
This procedure was chosen because it allowed a structured way to measure both blood
sugar levels and the amount of food going into the body. The means of measurement were also
the most accurate way to measure blood sugar levels and allowed control of when to measure it.
This procedure is very simple and easy to understand.
Hypothesis: If 1 cup of a sugary drink (Yerba Mate) is consumed when blood sugar
levels are normal, then blood sugar levels should rise for a brief moment before falling back to
normal due to the body’s natural function of homeostasis.
Materials and Methods:
Materials:
1. Glucose Meter
2. Glucose Meter Strips
3. Finger Pricker
4. Measuring Cup
 5. Drinking Cup
6. 2 Cans of Yerba Mate
7. Tissues/Napkins
Procedure:
Taking Your Initial Blood Test-
1. Before starting the test, make sure that you do not eat or drink any types of food
30 minutes before.
2. Start by loading the test strip into the meter, opening for the blood sticking out.
3. Then open the prick to load the needle into the prick. Then close the cap.
4. Place the needle end of the prick to the tip of one of your fingers and press the
button to prick your finger.
5. Squeeze some blood out of your finger and place the end of the strip that’s
attached to the meter to the drop of blood and gather the blood in the strip.
6. Be sure to wipe the blood off your finger with a napkin and clean properly.
7. Read the reading on the meter and record the blood glucose level.
Taking Your Blood Sugar After Drinking-
1. Open the can of Yerba Mate and measure out 1 cup (8 oz. =1 serving) of Yerba
Mate in the measuring cup.
2. Then transfer the Yerba Mate from the measuring cup into the drinking cup and
drink.
3. Then wait 10-15 minutes.
4. Again, load the test strip into the meter, opening for the blood sticking out.
5. Then open the prick to load the needle into the prick. Then close the cap.
6. Place the needle end of the prick to the tip of one of your fingers and press the
button to prick your finger.
7. Squeeze some blood out of your finger and place the end of the strip that’s
attached to the meter to the drop of blood and gather the blood in the strip.
8. Be sure to wipe the blood off your finger with a napkin and clean properly.
9. Read the reading on the meter and record the blood glucose level.
Taking Your Blood Sugar after Homeostasis-
1. Be sure to wait 10-15 minutes after taking the previous blood sugar test.
2. Once more, load the test strip into the meter, opening for the blood sticking out.
3. Then open the prick to load the needle into the prick. Then close the cap.
4. Place the needle end of the prick to the tip of one of your fingers and press the
button to prick your finger.
5. Squeeze some blood out of your finger and place the end of the strip that’s
attached to the meter to the drop of blood and gather the blood in the strip.
6. Be sure to wipe the blood off your finger with a napkin and clean properly.
7. Read the reading on the meter and record the blood glucose level.
8. Repeat this stage until your blood sugar has reached homeostasis (normal levels).
Results:

Test #1 (Ethan) Test #2 (Gigi) Test #3 (Peter) Test #4 (Jack)

Baseline Blood 84 104 150 116

Glucose Level
(mg/dL)

Blood Glucose 99 132 148 108

Level 10 Min
After
Consumption of
Yerba

Blood Glucose 128 147 143 113

Level 10 Min
After 2nd Test

Blood Glucose 97 124 122 N/A

Level 20 Min
After 2nd Test

Blood Glucose N/A 99 113 N/A

Level 30 Min
After 2nd Test
Discussion/Conclusions:
As seen in the graph, blood sugar starts at a reasonably stable blood sugar level and then
spikes after ingesting the sugary drink. This is reasonable since anything ingested into the body
will raise the glucose concentration in the body for energy. After about ten minutes, the insulin
starts to work to bring the glucose levels back to normal levels. This again is normal because
after blood sugar spikes, the body has a little extra glucose and needs to use insulin to bring it
back down to normal. However, even though all of the test subject’s glucose levels went back to
normal eventually, none of them reached the same levels at the same time. This is normal since
every individual’s pancreas works differently and at the same pace. Despite this, there still could
be flaws in our procedure. Not all of the test subjects were able to wait thirty minutes before
taking the baseline test, which could’ve brought up the time it took for homeostasis. Some of the
test subjects also reused some needles, which could’ve carried previous blood and messed up the
measurements. Even though the test could’ve been more accurate, the tests were very well
organized and the subjects were very willing, even after being poked in the finger multiple times.
Other test that can be done is taking different times it takes for homeostasis, how long it takes for
insulin to first start working, and how long it takes for homeostasis with different foods of
different quantities of foods.

Works Cited:
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www.bozemanscience.com/positive-and-negative-feedback-loops/.
4. Glucose Homeostasis,
www2.csudh.edu/nsturm/CHE452/24_Glucose%20Homeostas.htm.
5. “What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?” WebMD, WebMD,
www.webmd.com/g00/diabetes/qa/what-are-normal-blood-sugar-
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