Ethan Cadaoas, Jack Mulligan, Peter Nebb, Gigi Zarrehparvar

Blood Sugar

Research Guidelines
Research scientific method:
a. What are the steps of each
b. why we need it
c. what makes a test valid

Then start working on each part of the scientific method by starting with research

For your introduction make sure you answer:

a. What is homeostasis
b. How does your specific way of homeostasis work?
c. What organs are involved?
d. What hormones are involved?
e. What reaction does your body do?
Come talk to Ms. Mathews

Scientific Method Steps:

1. Observation- take note of something that you notice in the everyday world.
2. Ask a Question- Ask about why things are that way or how it works, anything that makes
you curious
3. Research- find information that will help you answer your question and form your
hypothesis
4. Form a Hypothesis- predict what you will think will happen to the the thing when
performing a certain action
5. Design an Experiment- write up a procedure in order to prove or disprove your
hypothesis, make sure it is measurable, recordable, and thorough
6. Collect Data- Get all the information down in an organized manner, such as in a table or
graph
7. Analysis- notice any patterns or recurrences in your data, and take note of them
8. Make a conclusion- using the found data, explain what you found, was the hypothesis
correct?
Why is it useful to us?- we need the scientific in order to get accurate research and find out how
homeostasis works
What makes the test valid?- The test must be repeatable, measurable, testing one variable, have a
dependent variable and independent variable, have clear constants, valid research and evidence,
answers the question, and have accurate measurements.
Research:
- Blood glucose levels are regulated by the pancreas
- A balance of glucagon and insulin is needed for homeostasis
- Insulin helps to lower blood sugar while glucagon raises it
- Insulin helps lower blood sugar by storing it in glycogen
- A disease called type 1 diabetes, causes a lack of insulin which leads to high blood sugar
- Negative feedback loops are used to monitor blood sugar
- The food is digested and glucose from the food is sensed by alpha and beta cells
in the pancreas.
- When the glucose concentration is high, the beta cells sense that and start
producing more insulin and slow down the production of glucagon, which lowers
blood sugar
- When the glucose concentration is low, the alpha cells sense this and start
producing more glucagon and slows down the production of glucagon which
raises blood sugar
- Alpha cells increase glucose levels by converting glycogen into glucose,
this process is called glycogenolysis
1. What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis for blood glucose levels is having a balance of insulin and glucagon. The
ideal blood sugar level is 100mg/dL.
2. How does your specific way of homeostasis work?
When your body digests food, the pancreas immediately senses blood sugar levels. If the
pancreas senses high blood sugar, beta cells in the pancreas make more insulin and slows
the production of glucagon in order to lower blood sugar. If the pancreas senses low
blood sugar, alpha cells in the pancreas make more glucagon and reduces the production
of insulin in order to raise the blood sugar back to normal.
3. What organs are involved?
The main organs involved are the small intestine, for digestion of food, and the pancreas,
which regulates blood glucose levels.
4. What hormones are involved?
The main hormones that are involved are insulin and glucagon.
5. What reaction does your body do?
A reaction that the body does is cellular respiration in order for the beta and alpha cells to
make insulin and glucagon. Another reaction in order to raise blood sugar that the body
does is glycogenolysis, the process of converting glycogen (where glucose is stored) in to
glucose.
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
Hypothesis: If we consume 1 cup of a sugary drink (Yerba Mate) when our blood sugar is
normal, then our blood sugar should rise for a brief moment before falling back to normal due to
our body’s natural function of homeostasis.
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 (8oz.=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 Once 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.
 Data:

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
 Sections of Scientific Research Article:
1. Abstract- General Overview of Study
2. Introduction- Background Information and Reason for Study
3. Participants And Methods- Procedure
4. Results- Data
5. Discussion- What we learned and further info (how it relates to different research
and everyday practices)
6. Implications for Research and Practice
7. Literature Cited/References- Research for info

Materials #2:
1. Glucose Meter
2. Glucose Meter Strips
3. Finger Pricker
4. 4 Bananas (similar in size and weight)
5. Tissues/Napkins

Procedure #2:
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 Eating-
1. Take the banana and peel it open. Then eat the banana. Be sure to eat the entire banana.
2. Then wait 10-15 minutes.
3. Again, load the test strip into the meter, opening for the blood sticking out.
4. Then open the prick to load the needle into the prick. Then close the cap.
5. Place the needle end of the prick to the tip of one of your fingers and press the button to
prick your finger.
6. 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.
7. Be sure to wipe the blood off your finger with a napkin and clean properly.
8. Read the reading on the meter and record the blood glucose level.
Taking Your Blood Sugar Once 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.

Works Cited:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sugar_regulation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4892884/
http://www.bozemanscience.com/positive-and-negative-feedback-loops/
http://www2.csudh.edu/nsturm/CHE452/24_Glucose%20Homeostas.htm
https://www.webmd.com/g00/diabetes/qa/what-are-normal-blood-sugar-levels?
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