Glucose is a monosaccharide, which is derived from dietary carbohydrates. Glucose is the only simple sugar that is transported in the bloodstream and it is commonly referred to as ‘blood sugar’.
Human body derived the glucose they need primarily from starch, a carbohydrate produce by plants. Glucose is found naturally in fruits, honey, sugarcane, sugar beets sweet potatoes, parsnip, onions and many other vegetables.
In the digestive system, starch is broken down into glucose molecules. Glucose then enters the blood stream.
The body cells use as much glucose as they can for their energy needs of the moment. Excess glucose is linked together and stored as glycogen.
Glycogen is the form in which the body store glucose in the liver and skeletal muscle cells.
Glycogen is composed of long, highly branched chains of glucose molecules. When the blood glucose levels fall the human body are able to convert liver glycogen into glucose, which is called glycogenolysis.
To handle the glucose that’s still coming in, body tissues shift to burning more glucose for energy instead of fat.
As a result, more fat is left to circulate in the bloodstream until it is picked by the fatty tissues and stored there.
In healthy individuals, a decline in blood glucose is normally prevented by homeostatic mechanisms. Serious problems can result in people whole glucose homeostasis is not operating properly.
A low level of glucose in the blood is called hypoglycemia. And is as harmful to the brain as is lack of oxygen.
A high level of glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia and can lead to glucose in the urine – glycosuria.
Glucose functions in human body
