Glucose is a simple sugar that serves as a major source of energy for cells and is transported through the bloodstream.
Glucose comes from carbohydrates in food and can also be produced or released by the body, particularly by the liver. Cells use it for energy, while some glucose can be stored as glycogen or converted into other substances.
Blood glucose is regulated mainly by hormones such as insulin and glucagon.
QUICK FACT
Glucose is a sugar, but having glucose in the blood is normal and necessary; the problem is when blood glucose remains too high or too low.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Blood sugar: the concentration of glucose in the blood.
- Diabetes: a group of disorders characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose.
SEE ALSO
