Biochemically, sugar is any class of sweet-tasting water-soluble carbohydrate. However, most people define it as the sweet crystalline or sometimes powdered substance added to food, drinks and even medicine to enhance taste. According to IC Virtual Chemistry Laboratory, sugar serves as an extremely important molecule in nature. Indeed, without this simple carbohydrate molecule, life might not exist on this planet.
Function
According to John Jay College in New York, sugar, a carbohydrate, serves as the main fuel source of the body. Bonded molecules of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen compose the main structure of sugar. The human body breaks down sugar to release energy during metabolism. In fact, as mentioned in Resources for Science Learning by The Franklin Institute, sugar serves as the primary source of energy for the brain. However, the role of sugar does not end in being a simple energy source within the body. According to "The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes," published online by PubMed, sugar, in the form of glucose, also serves as the main stimulator for the release of insulin, an important hormone that facilitates and drives the transfer of energy-loaded sugar across the cell membranes. Furthermore, the heat released by the breakdown of sugar also contributes to the regulation of the internal temperature within the body.
Types
According to IC Virtual Chemistry Laboratory, sugar may be classified into two types: the simple sugar and the complex carbohydrates, a molecule of multi-chained simple sugars. Simple sugar, the sweet tasting sugar, can be easily broken down to release energy. It can further be sub-classified into monosaccharide, the simplest sugar and disaccharide, a sugar molecule composed of two monosaccharide units bonded together. Examples of monosaccharides include galactose, fructose and glucose. The most common examples of disaccharide include sucrose, the table sugar, which is composed of a glucose molecule linked to a fructose molecule, and lactose, the milk sugar, which is composed of a glucose molecule bonded to a galactose molecule.
Conditions
Increased sugar levels in the blood may result into problematic health conditions. The most common health condition associated with increased sugar level in the body is diabetes, an endocrine problem that causes increased glucose levels within the blood. According to "The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes," diabetes may be caused by decreased insulin secretion, the cause of increased blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetes and increased insulin resistance, the decrease response of individual cells to insulin stimulus seen in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Another health problem that causes increased blood sugar level is galactosemia. Galactosemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by an inherited enzyme deficiency that results in the failure of conversion of galactose into glucose. This condition may lead to liver and hepatic failure, cognitive problems, cataract formation and sometimes, premature ovarian failure or early menopausal. Early diagnosis and treatment of this metabolic problem usually leads to good physical prognosis. However, cognitive performance usually becomes subnormal.
According to The Merck Manuals, fructose consumption may also cause problems in patients who have deficiency in the enzymes that metabolize fructose. In most cases, this enzyme deficiency may be asymptomatic. But in others, this may cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels.
Warnings and Complications
As mentioned by "The Genetic Landscape of Diabetes," patients who are suffering from diabetes must be cautious in the quantity of their sugar intake because of the possible hyperglycemia, or overwhelmingly increased blood sugar level. Hyperglycemia may lead to an increased amount of urine, increased thirst and increased appetite. However, in worst cases, hyperglycemia may result in coma and sometimes, even death. On the other hand, overzealous blood sugar control may lead to the development of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels, resulting in the development of jitteriness, cold clammy skin and sometimes drowsiness and coma.
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