Question

Vinnie has high blood glucose and must take insulin shots to control his blood sugar. Why must he override his normal homeostatic mechanisms by taking medication?

a. Vinnie's sensors are detecting high levels of glucose and therefore are not secreting insulin due to positive feedback control.
b. vinnie's positive feedback controls are not functioning properly.
c. vinnie's set point has changed telling him he needs more sugar.
d. an error signal has been sent to vinnie's integrating center, which is not functioning properly.
d. vinnie's negative feedback controls are not functioning properly.

Answer 1

Vinnie must take insulin because his body's negative feedback mechanisms, which normally lower high blood sugar, are not working properly due to diabetes. The correct option is d. Vinnie's negative feedback controls are not functioning properly.

Step-by-step explanation:

Vinnie must override his normal homeostatic mechanisms by taking medication because his negative feedback controls are not functioning properly. In healthy individuals, when blood glucose levels rise, the pancreas detects this change and releases insulin, which helps cells take up glucose and lowers blood sugar levels back to normal.

In Vinnie's case, who likely has diabetes, his pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin, and thus, the negative feedback loop cannot proceed to reduce the high blood sugar. Therefore, he must take insulin shots to manage his glucose levels and maintain homeostasis. The correct option is d. Vinnie's negative feedback controls are not functioning properly.