The-Endocrine-System-British-English-Teacher

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MEDICAL ENGLISH · MEDICAL ISSUES · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)
THE
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
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1 Warm up
Look at the images and answer these questions.
picture 1 picture 2
picture 3 picture 4
1. Do you know anyone with Type 1 diabetes? What is their lifestyle like?
2. What are some differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
3. What are some problems that diabetics face?
4. Do you know anyone who has to take lifelong medication? What medication do they take and
how long have they been taking it?
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INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
2 Vocabulary
Match the word on the left with the definition on the right. Check your answers with a partner.
1. initially a. at first
2. modify b. make changes to something
3. lifespan c. a liquid waste that comes out of your body
4. restore d. bring back to previous condition
5. injection e. watch something closely over a period of time
6. ongoing f. period of time that you are alive
7. urine g. act of putting a drug or substance into someone’s body using a

needle
8. monitor h. organ near the stomach that makes insulin
9. pancreas i. continuing to develop
Part B: Fill in the gaps with a word from the above exercise. Check your answers with a partner.
1. Smoking can cause several diseases as well as shorten one’s .
2. Some diabetics require daily of insulin in order to control their disease.
3. Scientists are conducting research to decide if the new therapy is beneficial.
4. Despite the surgery, the doctors were unable to his vision.
5. After surgery, the nurse had to check the amount of the patient produced.
6. As soon as he started the new medication, they had to his heart rate.
7. The is responsible for producing insulin.
3 Listening for general information
Listen to the dialogue about diabetic treatment in the past 100 years. As you listen, tick off the years
that are discussed.
1915 1921
1950s 1960s
2021 2031
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4 Listening for comprehension
Listen to the dialogue again and answer the questions below. When you are finished, check your
answers with a partner.
Why did diabetics have to test their urine?
1.
Name two conditions that are associated with diabetes.
2.
What does an insulin pump do?
3.
Who can get a pancreas transplant?
4.
What is another problem with pancreas transplants?
5.
What is the new therapy that was tested in 2021?
6.
How long did Dr Melon spend on developing this new therapy?
7.
Why did he decide to focus his research on diabetes?
8.

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5 Vocabulary
Match the words on the left with the correct definition. Check your answers with a partner.
1. numbness a. oppose; stop from happening
2. resist b. the need or feeling of needing to drink
3. excessive c. not clear
4. hormone d. a substance produced by an organ that is used in another part of the

body
5. blurred e. being very overweight
6. obesity f. the lack of feeling in a part of your body
7. thirst g. more than necessary or appropriate
Now, fill in the gaps with words from the exercise above. Check your answers with a partner.
1. After being outside in minus 30-degree conditions, he felt in his feet.
2. A few weeks after the transplant, it seemed like his body wanted to the new organ.
3. Because of the extreme heat, he had a for a cold drink.
4. Poor nutrition and a lack of exercise are causes of in all age groups.
5. The doctor believed that the amount of food the patient consumed was responsible
for his weight gain.
6. Several in the body control growth and weight gain.
7. The patient experienced vision after taking too much medication.
6 Reading for general information
You are going to quickly read a text about Type 2 diabetes. Look at the statements below and decide
whether they are true or false. Check your answers with a partner
1. There are 46 million people with Type 2 diabetes.
2. Diabetes affects only high-income countries.
3. Type 2 diabetes is found only in adults.
4. Type 2 diabetes means that the pancreas does not produce insulin.
5. Obesity is a cause of Type 2 diabetes.
6. Excessive thirst is a symptom of type 2 diabetes.

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Type 2 diabetes
A global problem
1. Type 2 diabetes affects which is the main cause of Type can show mild symptoms and
approximately 462 million 2 diabetes. may not be diagnosed for a
people around the world. The 2. With the number of cases few years. A simple blood test
number of diabetics is increasing increasing, medical professionals can quickly identify whether a
in many middle- and low-income are concerned about the impact person has the condition. Once
countries because of changes to this will have on healthcare. diagnosed, patients may need
diet and moves to urban areas. Diabetes is linked to other to modify their diets as well
Unlike Type 1 where a lack of conditions, such as heart disease, as take medication or insulin.
insulin production causes the kidney disease, nerve damage In some cases, patients only
disease, Type 2 is characterised and problems with vision. The need to change their diets to
by poor insulin use. This means risk of these conditions increases control their symptoms. People
that although the pancreas is when blood sugar levels are not who are obese or extremely
producing the hormone insulin, controlled. In fact, globally 1.5 overweight should lose weight
the body resists it. In the past, million deaths in 2019 were to help control their diabetes.
this condition was mostly seen because of diabetes. It is best to reduce calories by
in adults, but in the last two eating lots of fruit, vegetables
3. The symptoms of Type 2
decades, the number of children and whole grains and avoiding
diabetes are similar to Type 1.
and teenagers with this disease saturated fats like those found in
Common symptoms include
has increased. Poor diet and a dairy products.
excessive thirst, extreme
lack of exercise result in obesity,
tiredness, blurred vision, skin Sources: International Diabetes
infections, and numbness in the Federation, World Health
hands or feet. Some individuals Organization, Mayo Clinic

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7 Reading for comprehension
Read the text again and answer the questions below. When you are finished, check your answers
with a partner.
Give two reasons why the number of Type 2 diabetics is increasing.
1.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
2.
Why are more children and teenagers getting the disease?
3.
Diabetes is linked to what other conditions?
4.
In 2019, how many deaths were because of diabetes?
5.
What are some symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?
6.
What are some treatments for Type 2 diabetes?
7.
What type of fats should diabetics avoid in their diet?
8.

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8 Language point
The suffix "ness" can change adjectives into nouns. Look at the examples below.
Fill in the gaps using one of the words in the box plus the suffix "ness". Check your answers with a
partner.
fit / happy / sick / bald / well / lonely / effective / careless / lazy
1. is a condition that affects both men and women.
2. Many women suffer from morning in the first three months of pregnancy.
3. Many people use applications to keep track of their daily exercise.
4. Scientists recognise that is important for overall health.
5. Some cities have centres that focus on preventive health.
6. The of the medication decreased over time.
7. Because of his , he caused a major accident.
8. Many older adults who live by themselves suffer from .
9. The student claimed that his poor grades were not due to his .
9 Talking point
Discuss the following questions in small groups.
1. The discovery of insulin was considered a great success in 1921. Can you think of some other
medical discoveries that occurred in the 20th century?
2. Scientists are looking for a cure for many diseases. Name a disease that has been cured. What do
you know about this disease?
3. Why do you think diabetes is increasing in low- and middle-income countries?

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10 Optional task/listening
Listen to the following dialogue and fill in the patient form below. Check your answers with a partner.
11 Optional extension/writing
Write a 100-word paragraph on one of the topics below. Give examples to support your ideas.
1. What do you think has been the greatest medical discovery?

2. Do you think that fast-food restaurants are responsible for the increase in Type 2 diabetes? Why/why
not?
3. According to the text, diabetes is increasing in low- and middle-income countries. What do you
think is causing the increase?

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TEACHER MATERIALS · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)
Transcripts
3. Listening for general information
Elliot Wade: Good afternoon. Today we are going to speak with Dr Isabel McMahon of the
Diabetes Research Centre about new therapies in Type 1 diabetic treatment.
It has been 100 years since the discovery of insulin. What insulin treatments
were possible in the early days?
Dr Isabel McMahon: We have come a long way in treatment. Insulin was discovered in 1921. Initially
Type 1 diabetics were treated with doses of insulin several times a day. They
also had to modify the amount of food consumed depending on the insulin
and check blood sugar levels. It was a lot to balance each day. They also had a
reduced lifespan.
Elliot Wade: What other progress has been made in fighting the disease?
Dr Isabel McMahon: Once the link was made between blood sugar control and preventing other
difficulties, new products were created. In the 1950s diabetics had to test
their urine several times a day to measure the level of sugar in their system.
However, during the 70s and 80s more products became available to test
blood sugar. These all helped patients and doctors monitor blood sugar levels
more easily. Maintaining normal value blood sugar is key in preventing future
problems associated with the disease, like blindness and kidney disease.
Elliot Wade: That is interesting. Were there any other inventions?
Dr Isabel McMahon: Yes. The insulin pump has allowed diabetics more freedom as this device
provides insulin continuously and there is no need for daily injections.
Elliot Wade: How about transplants? Or replacing the pancreas?
Dr Isabel McMahon: Yes, but these transplants are reserved for those who had previous difficulties
with kidney function. Also there are not enough pancreases to transplant to all
patients with Type 1.
Elliot Wade: I understand that there is a recent treatment that looks hopeful.
Dr Isabel McMahon: Yes. A very promising treatment was tested in early 2021. It involves producing
insulin from some transplanted cells. These cells were put into the patient,
which allowed his cells to restore insulin production. The study is ongoing but
it does seem that it could be a treatment in the next decade for Type 1 diabetics.
In fact, if the therapy works, and diabetics could produce their own insulin, it
would be a cure rather than a treatment.
Elliot Wade: That does sound very exciting and inspiring for all the diabetics out there.
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Dr Isabel McMahon: Yes, indeed. It was all based on a 30-year dream for Dr Doug Melton, the
researcher. His son was diagnosed with diabetes and he changed his entire
research career to focus on a cure.
Elliot Wade: Well, let’s hope this new research is a success. Thank you for being here with
us today Dr McMahon.
Dr Isabel McMahon: It was a pleasure. Thank you for having me.
10. Optional task/listening
Dr Ambrose: Good morning. What can I do for you today?
Betty: Well, I am not feeling like myself lately. I think something is wrong.
Dr Ambrose: OK. Let’s check your weight and BP. Have you had any headaches recently? Fever?
Betty: No. I just feel tired all the time.
Dr Ambrose: You have gained weight since your last visit. ... You are now 68kg. Your BP is 130/85.
Are you eating more than usual?
Betty: I don’t think so.
Dr Ambrose: Do you feel a need to drink more than usual?
Betty: Perhaps in the last while, I have been thirsty, but I thought it could be the hot weather.
Dr Ambrose: You mentioned you feel tired all the time. Are you sleeping well?
Betty: Yes. In fact, I sleep about 8 hours a night. But I still feel tired. I also have had a few
problems with my eyesight. Things are not as clear as before, so perhaps I need an eye
exam.
Dr Ambrose: Does anyone in your family have diabetes?
Betty: Not that I know of.
Dr Ambrose: I am going to send you for some blood tests. I will call you with the results in a few
days.
Betty: Okay. Thank you, doctor.
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Key
1. Warm up
5 mins.
Students will discuss the questions in small groups.
Q2:
Type 1 – insulin dependent, pancreas does not produce insulin, appears in childhood
Type 2 – comes later in life, often poor lifestyle – lack of exercise, poor nutrition, overweight, can be controlled
by changes in behaviour and/or medication (pills)
Q3: kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, foot problems (poor circulation), nerve damage – risk amputation
2. Vocabulary
Part A
5 mins.
Students will match words with definitions. Please note that injection is C1, but it is a necessary term for the
medical field.
Note: some students might need to revise: cure - make healthy again
1. → a.
2. → b.
3. → f.
4. → d.
5. → g.
6. → i.
7. → c.
8. → e.
9. → h.
Part B
5-7 mins.
Students will fill in the gaps using the words above. Have them check answers with a partner and then with the
whole class.
1. lifespan 2. injections 3. ongoing 4. restore 5. urine

6. monitor 7. pancreas
3. Listening for general information
3- 5mins.
Students will listen to the dialogue about diabetic treatment in the past 100 years.
✓ 1921 ✓ 1950s
✓ 2021 ✓ 2031
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4. Listening for comprehension
7 mins.
Students will listen to the dialogue again and answer the comprehension questions. Have them check answers in
pairs and then with the whole class.
1. check levels of sugar

2. blindness and kidney disease
3. pumps insulin continuously
4. people who had problems with kidney function
5. not enough to transplant to all patients
6. transplanting cells to restore insulin production
7. 30 years
8. his son was diagnosed with the disease
5. Vocabulary
7 mins.
Matching
Students will match words with the definitions. Have them check answers in pairs.
1. → f.
2. → a.
3. → g.
4. → d.
5. → c.
6. → e.
7. → b.
Gap-fill
Students will fill in gaps with words from the above exercise. Have them check answers in pairs.
1. numbness 2. resist 3. thirst 4. obesity

5. excessive 6. hormones 7. blurred
6. Reading for general information
7 mins.
Students will quickly read the text and decide if the statements are true or false. Have them check answers in
pairs and then check with the whole class.
1. false
2. false
3. false
4. false
5. true
6. true
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Sources
https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/type-2-diabetes.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193
7. Reading for comprehension
7 mins.
Students will read and answer the questions. Have them check answers with a partner and then with the whole
class.
1. Bad diet and moving to urban areas.

2. Poor insulin use.
3. Obesity, poor nutrition, lack of exercise.
4. Heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and problems with vision.
5. Around 1.5 million.
6. Excessive thirst, extreme tiredness, blurred vision, skin infections, and numbness in the hands or feet.
7. Good diet, medication, insulin.
8. Saturated fats e.g. in dairy products.
8. Language point
7 mins.
Students will look at the suffix "ness" and learn how to change adjectives into nouns. There are three examples
from this lesson (blindness – listening) and (nervousness, sleeplessness- reading). If students finish earlier, have
them write their own sentences using the given words.
1. Baldness 2. sickness 3. fitness 4. happiness 5. wellness

6. effectiveness 7. carelessness 8. loneliness 9. laziness
9. Talking point
5 mins.
Students will discuss the questions in small groups. This will prepare them for optional extension.
10. Optional task/listening
5 mins.
Students will listen to the dialogue and fill in the patient form below.
Name: Betty
Weight: 68 kg
BP: 130/90
Symptoms: tired, periods feeling thirsty, eyesight problems
What do you think the diagnosis is? Type 2 diabetes
11. Optional extension/writing
25-30 mins.
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Students will write a 100-word paragraph on a topic of their choice. Check paragraphs for errors.
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HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

MEDICAL ENGLISH · MEDICAL ISSUES · INTERMEDIATE (B1-B2)

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 1/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

2. modify b. make changes to something

3. lifespan c. a liquid waste that comes out of your body

4. restore d. bring back to previous condition

5. injection e. watch something closely over a period of time

6. ongoing f. period of time that you are alive

7. urine g. act of putting a drug or substance into someone’s body using a

9. pancreas i. continuing to develop

1. Smoking can cause several diseases as well as shorten one’s .

2. Some diabetics require daily of insulin in order to control their disease.

3. Scientists are conducting research to decide if the new therapy is beneﬁcial.

4. Despite the surgery, the doctors were unable to his vision.

7. The is responsible for producing insulin.

3 Listening for general information

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 2/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

4 Listening for comprehension

Why did diabetics have to test their urine?

Name two conditions that are associated with diabetes.

What does an insulin pump do?

Who can get a pancreas transplant?

What is another problem with pancreas transplants?

What is the new therapy that was tested in 2021?

How long did Dr Melon spend on developing this new therapy?

Why did he decide to focus his research on diabetes?

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 3/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

1. numbness a. oppose; stop from happening

2. resist b. the need or feeling of needing to drink

3. excessive c. not clear

4. hormone d. a substance produced by an organ that is used in another part of the

6. obesity f. the lack of feeling in a part of your body

7. thirst g. more than necessary or appropriate

1. After being outside in minus 30-degree conditions, he felt in his feet.

3. Because of the extreme heat, he had a for a cold drink.

6. Several in the body control growth and weight gain.

7. The patient experienced vision after taking too much medication.

6 Reading for general information

1. There are 46 million people with Type 2 diabetes.

2. Diabetes aﬀects only high-income countries.

3. Type 2 diabetes is found only in adults.

5. Obesity is a cause of Type 2 diabetes.

6. Excessive thirst is a symptom of type 2 diabetes.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 4/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 5/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

7 Reading for comprehension

Give two reasons why the number of Type 2 diabetics is increasing.

What causes Type 2 diabetes?

Why are more children and teenagers getting the disease?

Diabetes is linked to what other conditions?

In 2019, how many deaths were because of diabetes?

What are some symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?

What are some treatments for Type 2 diabetes?

What type of fats should diabetics avoid in their diet?

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 6/8

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ﬁt / happy / sick / bald / well / lonely / eﬀective / careless / lazy