The Science of Diabetes
Sugar & Glucose
Sucrose is a disaccharide
Two sugars joined together are called a disaccharide. Sucrose, table sugar, is a disaccharide made up of glucose plus fructose.
Other disaccharides are lactose and maltose.
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Disaccharides
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Sucrose
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Glucose + fructose
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Table sugar
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Lactose
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Glucose + galactose
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Milk sugar
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Maltose
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Glucose + glucose
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Starch is a polysaccharide
Many glucose molecules can be joined together in long chains. This is the way plants and animals store sugar. These long chains of glucose molecules are called polysaccharides. Whereas the simple sugars - monosaccharides and disaccharides - are easily soluble in water, the polysaccharides are not water-soluble.
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Polysaccharides
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Amylose
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Straight chain of glucose
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Plant storage form of glucose
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Amylopectin
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Branched chain of glucose
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Plant storage form of glucose
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Glycogen
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Branched chain of glucose
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Animal storage form of glucose
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Cellulose
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Rigid, straight chain of glucose
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Cell walls of plants such as wood, paper, and
cotton
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