Dextrose Question- is it harmful?

[luckyacorn]

Is dextrose the same as glucose? Will consuming dextrose raise glucose levels? I read that the long term elevated glucose levels can cause liver failure, along with a host of other problems. I give my child baked goods with dextrose all the time. Am I harming him by doing this?

Also, I was reading through some older posts and I think someone mentioned that it was not good to consume dextrose.

[charlie]

Dextrose is the same as glucose, I think the main problem with glucose is it elevates the blood sugar quicker than more complex sugars so you end up possible with higher highs and then lower lows if that makes sense.
Megs doesn't seem to cope very well with glucose so I tend to avoid it as much as possible. She can go manic after having it as though she is drunk.
Yes blood sugar is regulated by insulin from the pancreas but if the blood sugar shoots up high then low it can confuse things. The body will only release as much insulin as is needed to break down the sugars. I'm not sure it would cause longterm damage if the diet is steady. The risk for liver problems comes more from the fructose problem I would have thought

[sarahk]

Mike here: I'm not a doctor or scientist, but Dextrose and Glucose are the same, and aren't the same.

As I understand it, the number of protons and nuetrons and electrons are the same in Glucose and Dextrose, but structured differently--which is why if you can break down Glucose, you can break down Dextrose. (Another way to think of it is you can have $15 in all fives, a ten and a five, fifteen ones......but you still have the same total.)

From what I remember from college-Biology for non-bio majors-it can be broken down like this: Glucose 1-Glucose and Glucose 2--which is Dextrose.

If you find Diabetic tablets at a pharmacy, you will see the ingredients are listed as: Glucose (dextrose)

[mazian]

Our dietician said that sometimes the source of Dextrose can make a difference as to whether you can tolerate it for some people. I am not sure if that is an issue with you guys or not? Just a thought.

[CJSculpts]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextrose

Dextrose = D-glucose.

Glucose is what allows the fructose to be transported by the body. This is why, at least for FM and possibly for some with HFI, it is important to look at the ratio of fructose to glucose in foods. If there is enough glucose, then the fructose can be tolerated. Some say that to help "balance out " the ratio, or in the case of accidental ingestion, it is helpful to consume glucose or dextrose in the form of glucose tablets, Smarties, or Pixie Stix.

Glucose tablets used by diabetics to raise their blood sugar levels during a crash are usually made from dextrose. I was not sure about the difference between glucose and dextrose when I was first trying to find a glucose source and I found very few that actually have glucose. The market leader is a brand called Dex4 - named so of the dextrose.

Dextrose will be no more harmful than regular sugar would be to someone without HFI/FM. Obviously, don't over do it any more than you would with regular sugar, if there is an additional condition that would contra-indicate sugar consumption be cautious, and (yes, hehe) consult your doctor. ; )