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Jai Ganesh

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Glucose

Glucose

Gist

Glucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide) with the chemical formula C₆H₁₂O₆ that serves as the body's primary energy source. Your body derives glucose from the food you eat, and it is transported through the bloodstream to cells, where hormones like insulin help regulate its uptake for energy production (ATP) and storage as glycogen. Plants produce glucose through photosynthesis, and it is central to the metabolism of all living organisms, fueling virtually all energy-requiring processes.

Glucose is a simple sugar and the main type of carbohydrate that serves as the primary source of energy for the body's cells, fueling functions from muscle contraction to nerve impulse conduction. It is carried in the bloodstream as blood sugar or blood glucose and enters cells with the help of the hormone insulin. Your body obtains glucose from the foods you eat, particularly carbohydrates like fruits, bread, and pasta, which are broken down into this fundamental fuel, or it can produce glucose from other substances through processes like gluconeogenesis. 

Summary

Glucose is a sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6. It is the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. It is made from water and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis by plants and most algae. It is used by plants to make cellulose, the most abundant carbohydrate in the world, for use in cell walls, and by all living organisms to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used by the cell as energy. Glucose is often abbreviated as Glc.

In energy metabolism, glucose is the most important source of energy in all organisms. Glucose for metabolism is stored as a polymer, in plants mainly as amylose and amylopectin, and in animals as glycogen. Glucose circulates in the blood of animals as blood sugar. The naturally occurring form is d-glucose, while its stereoisomer l-glucose is produced synthetically in comparatively small amounts and is less biologically active. Glucose is a monosaccharide containing six carbon atoms and an aldehyde group, and is therefore an aldohexose. The glucose molecule can exist in an open-chain (acyclic) as well as ring (cyclic) form. Glucose is naturally occurring and is found in its free state in fruits and other parts of plants. In animals, it is released from the breakdown of glycogen in a process known as glycogenolysis.

Glucose, as intravenous sugar solution, is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is also on the list in combination with sodium chloride (table salt).

Details

Dietary glucose is a monosaccharide (simple sugar), making it the simplest type of carbohydrate (carb).

When you consume dietary glucose, your body converts it into blood glucose. This is one of your body’s primary fuel sources, along with fat and protein.

According to the American Heart Association, the body digests complex carbs more slowly than simple carbs, making them a healthier and steadier energy source.

If you’re living with diabetes, perhaps more important is that complex carbs release glucose into the bloodstream gradually rather than immediately. This makes them less likely to cause blood glucose spikes.

Unmanaged glucose levels may have permanent and severe effects.

How does the body process glucose?

Your body ideally uses glucose multiple times per day.

When you eat, your body quickly starts processing glucose and other carbohydrates. Then, enzymes begin to break them down with help from the pancreas.

The pancreas plays a key roleTrusted Source in the way your body metabolizes glucose.

When blood glucose levels increase, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. This manages the rising blood sugar level by getting glucose into your cells.

Then, muscle, fat, and other cells use glucose for energy or store it as fat for later use.

If your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin the way it should, you may develop diabetes. In this case, you may need medical treatment to help process and regulate glucose in the body.

Insulin resistance

A 2018 review suggests that diabetes may also occur from insulin resistance. This is when the body’s cells do not sense insulin, and too much sugar remains in the bloodstream.

When the body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should, it stops glucose from entering your cells and being used for energy. Your cells respond by signaling the creation of ketones, which occurs at night and during fasting or dieting.

Over time, insulin resistance may lead to low insulin levels, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Your body may also release fat from fat cells, and the liver will keep releasing ketones, lowering your blood pH to an acidic level.

This typically occurs in type 1 diabetes, where there’s little to no insulin production.

In type 2 diabetes, insulin levels do eventually decrease, but typically not to a level that raises ketones high enough to cause the blood to be acidic.

When your body cannot use glucose properly, the buildup of ketones and changes in blood pH may lead to ketoacidosis. This is a severe, life threatening complication of diabetes that requires immediate medical treatment.

Ketogenic diet and diabetes

The keto diet has gained popularity, but it’s a medical diet with risks.

According to a 2019 study, a low carb or keto diet may reduce body weight, but people with diabetes and taking certain medications may have an increased risk of developing ketoacidosis.

Everyone may experience other adverse effects, such as high cholesterol, which is associated with cardiovascular disease.

It’s best to speak with your doctor before starting any diet plan to help prevent complications.

How do you test your glucose?

Monitoring glucose levels is important for people with diabetes.

A simple blood test called a blood glucose meter is one of the most common ways to test glucose at home when living with diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Trusted Source.

Here’s how to use a blood glucose meter:

* Using a small lancet needle, prick the side of your fingertip to produce a drop of blood.
* Apply the blood to a testing strip.
* Place the strip into a meter.
* The meter shows how much glucose is in your blood at that moment.
* Working with a doctor to help set your glucose goals is important, as these depend on factors like your condition, age, and health history.

How often should you check your blood sugar levels?

Your needs, goals, and treatment plan may dictate how often and when to check your blood sugar level.

To stay on top of your glucose levels, speak with a doctor about when and how frequently you should check your levels. They may suggest checking your levels at the following times:

* before and after meals
* before and after exercise
* during long or intense exercise
* before bedtime
* when starting new medications or a new insulin schedule
* when starting a new work schedule
* when traveling across time zones

Continuous glucose monitor

When managing diabetes, you may consider using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. The device automatically tracks your glucose 24 hours per day and alerts you when it gets too high or low.

According to the NIDDK, the benefits of a CGM include:

* needing fewer finger pricks
* helping better manage glucose
* leading to fewer emergencies.

Additional Information

Glucose is a one of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars (monosaccharides). Glucose (from Greek glykys; “sweet”) has the molecular formula C6H12O6. It is found in fruits and honey and is the major free sugar circulating in the blood of higher animals.

Glucose is the source of energy in cell function. The regulation of its metabolism is of great importance and is relevant in various metabolic processes, examples being fermentation and gluconeogenesis. Molecules of starch, the major energy-reserve carbohydrate of plants, consist of thousands of linear glucose units. Another major compound composed of glucose is cellulose, which is also linear. Dextrose is the molecule d-glucose.

The maintenance of the glucose content of vertebrate blood requires glucose 6-phosphate to be converted to glucose. This process occurs in the kidney, in the lining of the intestine, and most importantly in the liver. The liver stores excess glucose as glycogen, a reserve carbohydrate, and releases it when blood glucose levels drop, thereby preventing hypoglycemia. In addition, the liver can produce glucose from non-carbohydrate sources through gluconeogenesis, which helps ensure a steady supply of glucose for the body.

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