The Science of Diabetes
Sugar & Glucose
When we talk about sugar we are usually referring to table sugar that we use in food and cooking. Sugar is also a term used by chemists that refers to compounds that are sweet and are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In general, one molecule of water is combined with one carbon atom. These compounds are hydrates (meaning water added) of carbon or carbohydrates. The proper chemical term for table sugar is sucrose. When we talk about sugar in the blood, the proper chemical term for blood sugar is glucose. A glucose molecule is made up of 6 carbon atoms and 6 water molecules.
Glucose (Fischer projection)
The chemical formula of glucose is C6H12O6. The molecular weight of glucose is 180 (one mole or 6 x 10 23 molecules of glucose weighs 180 g). Carbon is a unique element. It can form stable chemical bonds with 4 other atoms. It is the energy within these chemical bonds that is released inside of the cell and used as energy in living organisms.
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