Derek Dela Cruz

Daniel Ford
Max Leonard
STEM - 2/3
January 23, 2019

Homeostasis and Blood Sugar

Abstract:
Objective: ​The objective of the lab was to prove and monitor the body’s process for maintaining
homeostasis through blood sugar levels.
Design: ​To have a subject eat different amounts of sugar daily, sticking to one food source per
day, and record blood sugar levels. The first day was sticking to ice cream. The second day was
salad.
Subject: ​The subject was one sixteen year old male.
Variables Measured​: Blood sugar levels measured at specific points in the day.
Analysis​: The body produces more or less insulin or glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels and
maintain homeostasis.
Results: ​The hypothesis was proved to be correct and we saw blood sugar levels drop and rise.
Implications​: This will encourage people to eat healthier so their bodies do not have to produce
so much insulin and it is easier to maintain homeostasis.

Introduction:
Homeostasis is a process in which organisms maintain a stable environment in their
bodies. One way that organisms maintains homeostasis is maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar is the amount of glucose present in the blood of an organism. Blood sugar is
considered high when it’s above 180 mg/dL and low when it’s below 70 mg/dL. (Appold). High
blood sugar is hyperglycemia and low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. (Michigan Medicine). The
body maintains stable blood sugar levels by using hormones produced by the pancreas. When
blood sugar is high, the pancreas produces insulin to reduce the levels. When blood sugar is low,
the pancreas produces glucagon to increase the levels. Both actions are examples of negative
feedback loops because it’s keeping the organism at a target set point; in this case, blood sugar.
It’s also going to that target set point by reducing and dampening the change. It reduces the total
change in blood sugar from healthy levels.
The point of this lab was to see how the specific blood sugar numbers change depending
on what a person eats and how the body maintains homeostasis overall. This was chosen because
blood sugar is a critical measurement for human survival and diabetes is a rampant problem in
the US. It would be beneficial to learn exactly how the pancreas produces hormones to control it.
Hypothesis:​ ​If a person’s blood sugar becomes too high or too low, then the body will produce a
hormone from the pancreas to bring the blood sugar back to normal levels.

Materials:
● OneTouch Ultra Blood Glucose Meter
● 25 test strips
● OneTouch UltraSoft needle
● Ice cream
● Salad

Procedure:
There was one test subject. The test lasted two days. On the first day, the subject would
eat high levels of sugar three times with no food in between. The subject would record the food
that they would eat and the time. The subject would take their blood sugar before and after each
time they eat sugar. Lastly, the subject would take their blood sugar when they woke up and
went to sleep. The subject would take their blood sugar 8 times in the first day. On the second
day, the subject would only eat salad 3 times in the day and took their blood sugar before and
after. The subject would also take their blood sugar when they woke up and before they went to
sleep. The subject would take their blood sugar 8 times the second day. Over the two days, the
subject would take their blood sugar 16 times.
There are no requirements to participate in the test. A person only needs bravery to stab
themselves and dietary determination.

Data/Results:
All of these data points are measured in mg/dL, or milligrams per deciliter.
Test Subject Day 1 Sugar Day 2 Sugar
Morning 120 126
Before Meal 1 125 100
After Meal 1 146 115
Before Meal 2 91 97
After Meal 2 128 95
Before Meal 3 92 112
After Meal 3 119 91
Evening 94 101
Average of Day 1: 114.375 mg/dL
Average of Day 2: 104.625 mg/dL
Data Analysis:
This data represents the readings taken by a “OneTouch Ultra Blood Glucose Meter”
with “25 test strips” and a “OneTouch UltraSoft” needle. These readings were taken at different
points throughout the day based on eating habits. The information is not a continuous stream of
data and therefore the line graph is simply based on key points of data during the trial. The data
was taken in multiple places due to the portable nature of the glucose meter. The data shown by
the red line graph is a representation of the first day of trials in which the subject ate very little
for long periods of time followed by a large amount of sugar intake. We see three large spikes
that coincide with large intakes of caloric and glucose heavy foods. The second day can be seen
in yellow and outlines the subjects blood sugar levels when eating only meals of dressingless
salad. This means that the subject had almost no sugar intake throughout the day. The chart
shows an almost inverse graph of the first day. The average of both days can be seen in green
and orange showing that the average of the second day was lower but almost even with that of
the first.

Discussion/Conclusion:
The data shows how the body maintains insulin and glucagon levels to keep blood sugar
levels steady. When blood sugar rose, insulin was produced to lower it. When blood sugar
dropped, glucagon was produced to raise it. This proves homeostasis because it shows how the
body reacts to more or less sugar intake and responds to keep homeostasis and stability. The
results went well since the desired results were achieved and it proved that homeostasis can be
observed via the regulation and tracking of blood sugar in the body. The one thing that did not
necessarily go well with the lab was the subject’s distaste for eating only salad for a day with no
dressing. However, the subject cooperated and he was able to successfully perform the lab
without any major errors. Other tests that could be performed based off of the data could be
testing how different foods affect blood sugar levels and observe how much insulin and glucagon
the body makes in order to compensate for the intake. An example of this could be, rather than
eating salad, eating a pizza. Another example is, instead of ice cream, eating a food without
lactose. Another possibility is testing how gluten free foods affect the blood sugar levels
compared to food with high gluten content.
 Works Cited

Appold, Karen. “Signs of High and Low Blood Sugar.” ​Stroke Center - EverydayHealth.com,​
Ziff Davis, LLC, 14 Sept. 2017,
www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/high-and-low-blood-sugar/​.

“Diabetes-Related High and Low Blood Sugar Levels.” ​Beta-Blockers for Mitral Valve Prolapse
| Michigan Medicine​, ​www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tm7018​.