What is glucose?
Glucose, also known as blood sugar or a monosaccharide, is the simplest form of sugar.
Other monosaccharides include fructose, galactose, and ribose.
It’s a type of sugar you get from foods you eat, and especially from carbohydrates. When you consume carbohydrates, the pancreas releases a number of enzymes to breakdown the carbohdrates into glucose so the body can absorb them. When the carbs are broken down into glucose, they can then be used as a source of energy.
Maintaining glucose levels near the normal range is an important part of keeping your body healthy.
Blood sugar levels can rise as a result of:
- The type of carbohydrates you consume
- The amount of glucose and carbs you eat
- Digestibility of that meal
There are long-term consequences for unregulated glucose levels. It can lead to a variety of conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Skin breakouts and infections
- Dehydration
- Coma