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Glucose – Function, Blood Sugar and Metabolism

Glucose is a simple sugar and the primary source of energy for the human body. It is absorbed through food and transported via the bloodstream to cells and organs.

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Things worth knowing about "Glucose"

Glucose is a simple sugar and the primary source of energy for the human body. It is absorbed through food and transported via the bloodstream to cells and organs.

What Is Glucose?

Glucose (also known as dextrose or blood sugar) is a monosaccharide – a simple sugar – and the most important energy source for the human body. Nearly all body cells, especially the brain and muscles, depend on a constant supply of glucose to maintain their functions.

Sources and Absorption

Glucose is found naturally in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and honey. During digestion, it is released from complex carbohydrates and absorbed through the lining of the small intestine into the bloodstream. From there, it is transported to organs and cells throughout the body.

Role in Metabolism

Glucose serves as the central energy currency of the body. Inside cells, it is broken down through a process called glycolysis and used to generate energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen or converted into fat for long-term storage.

Blood Sugar and Regulation

The concentration of glucose in the blood – known as blood sugar – is tightly regulated by hormones:

Insulin (produced by the pancreas) lowers blood sugar by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells.
Glucagon (also from the pancreas) raises blood sugar by stimulating the release of glucose from glycogen stores in the liver.

Normal fasting blood glucose levels in adults range between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9–5.6 mmol/L).

Clinical Significance

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

When blood glucose falls below the normal range, the condition is called hypoglycemia. Symptoms include trembling, sweating, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness. Immediate intake of fast-acting glucose is required to treat this condition.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)

Persistently elevated blood glucose levels – hyperglycemia – are the hallmark of diabetes mellitus. Over time, uncontrolled hyperglycemia can cause serious damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels.

Medical Uses

In clinical medicine, glucose is administered intravenously as an infusion solution to rapidly treat hypoglycemia or to provide energy during parenteral nutrition (nutrition delivered directly into the bloodstream). Glucose also plays a central role in diagnostic testing, particularly the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which is used to diagnose diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Definition and Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus and Intermediate Hyperglycaemia. WHO Press, Geneva, 2006.
Berg, J. M. / Tymoczko, J. L. / Stryer, L.: Biochemistry. 8th Edition, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 2015.
American Diabetes Association: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2023. Diabetes Care, 46 (Suppl. 1), 2023.

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