Glucose Monitoring

Objective:

To explain in a short essay or with diagrams the body’s glucose response to consuming foods with varying glycemic loads, at the level of 85% proficiency for each student.

In order to achieve this objective, you will need to be able to:

1. Measure and record blood glucose levels under various condition.

2. Examine changes in blood glucose in response to food with varying glycemic loads

3. Examine over time the body’s response to consuming food with a high glycemic load and food with a low glycemic load.

Materials:

Group Materials:

· isopropyl alcohol

· cotton balls

· Paper cup

· Glucose monitor kit

Lab Materials

· 1 qt orange juice

· 1 qt non-fat milk

· 1 loaf white bread

· 1 package whole wheat bagels

· Sharps container

· Biohazard bag

Methods:

Work in groups of four. One subject in each group will measure Blood Glucose using a drop of blood from a finger prick and a blood glucose monitor to establish baseline (0 minutes) glucose. That subject will consume a designated carbohydrate. Adjust consumption so that each subject gets 20 grams of carbohydrate. The subject will then measure Blood Glucose at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes following consumption. Record the Blood Glucose levels at each time in Table 1. Glycemic load is the effect that a given quantity of carbohydrate has on blood glucose. A food with a high glycemic load will have a large effect on blood glucose.

Results

Table 1 – Glycemic load and Blood Glucose

Foods with various Glycemic loads	Time after ingestion – Glucose in mg/dl
	0 min	15 min	30 min	60 min
Orange Juice
White Bread
Non Fat Milk
Wheat Bagel

Discussion

Determine the relative glycemic load of each of the foods consumed.
Explain the time course of the changes in blood glucose associated with each food.
Speculate how Insulin may be affecting the levels of blood glucose seen