Glucose is a type of simple sugar found in your blood that is used by every single cell as a form of energy. If you can visualize your body as a machine, glucose would be the fuel used to keep it going. Normally, glucose is deposited into the body through the food that we eat, however certain conditions such as diabetes can require glucose and other sugars to be directly injected into the bloodstream.
Production
The transformation of foodstuffs into the vital sugar glucose begins with the consumption of food. The food you eat travels through your esophagus and down into your stomach where it is dissolved and processed by your stomach acids, turning the food into the simple sugar glucose. Once food has been broken down into it's basic components, the nutrients are absorbed through the lining of your intestines. From here, the glucose is deposited directly into your bloodstream and is transferred throughout your body, supplying energy to your cells.
Insulin
Maintaining that steady flow of glucose in your bloodstream can be attributed to the work of two hormones that are produced in your pancreas: insulin and glucagon. These two hormones play two completely different yet equally vital roles in the human body. Insulin stimulates the cells in your body to create proteins out of amino acids and also stimulates liver and muscle cells to store glucose as glycogen. When your body has an excess amount of glucose, insulin is responsible for keeping high blood sugar down and storing the extra energy for use later.
Insulin and Glucagon
The yin to insulin's yang, glucagon plays an equally important role in keeping your body healthy and moving. Similar in function to insulin, glucagon stimulates the same cells as insulin, but forces them to break down the glycogen into glucose when your blood sugar becomes low. This prevents your blood sugar levels from becoming dangerously low and causing medical complications down the road. Together, the two hormones work to keep a constant equilibrium of glucose in your bloodstream.
Storage
When your body breaks down food and turns it into glucose, cells are immediately supplied with a boost of fuel. However, it would be inefficient for your body to splurge on all of that energy right after a meal and not save any for later. To maximize your body's energy efficiency, your bloodstream contains a constant flow of glucose to provide fuel for your cells all day. If you happen to have an excess amount of glucose in your body, it is stored for use later as glycogen, long chains of glucose stored in your liver and muscles. However, having excessive amounts of glucose in your body without using it through exercise can result in excess body weight and fat.
Diabetes
Diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, are essentially your body's dependency, as in Type 1; and resistance, as in Type 2; to insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't have the ability to produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar levels even. As a result, the overpowering levels of glycogen stimulate your body into keeping high blood sugar levels which can be dangerous. To combat this, insulin is directly injected into the bloodstream in order to keep balance. Type 2 diabetes can be treated with special dieting, exercise, and insulin treatment.
