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