Glycemic Index Glossary

Blood glucose

Glucose (also known as dextrose) is the main sugar in the blood, and is commonly referred to as blood sugar. It is the main source of energy in the body and is obtained from food or made by the liver. Glucose is made from all three elements of food, protein, fat and carbohydrates, but in largest part from carbohydrates. It is carried to each cell through the bloodstream although the cells cannot use the glucose without the help of insulin.

Dietary Glycemic Load

Dietary glycemic load is the sum of the glycemic loads for all foods consumed in the diet. The concept of glycemic load was developed by scientists to simultaneously describe the quality (glycemic index) and quantity of carbohydrate in a meal or diet.

Glycemic Index

The Glycemic Index is a system that ranks foods based on the rate at which ingested food will increase blood sugar levels. This scale is relative to Glucose. A high glycemic index gives a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and a low glycemic index gives a slow increase in blood sugar levels.

Glycemic Load

The glycemic index compares the potential of foods containing the same amount of carbohydrate to raise blood glucose. However, the amount of carbohydrate consumed also affects blood glucose levels and insulin responses. The glycemic load of a food is calculated by multiplying the glycemic index by the amount of carbohydrate in grams provided by a food and dividing the total by 100. In essence, each unit of the glycemic load represents the equivalent blood glucose-raising effect of 1 gram of pure glucose (or white bread).

Glycemic Response

Glycemic response is the effect of food, after consumption, on the blood glucose levels over a period of time.

Glycogen

Glycogen consists of branched chains of glucose and it is how glucose is stored in the body.

Glycogenolysis

Glycogenolysis is the process whereby glycogen is broken down into glucose, a process that occurs when the body requires energy.

Insulin

Insulin is a natural hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Insulin permits cells to use glucose for energy without it glucose cannot be utilised. Insulin stimulates skeletal muscle fibers to take uo glucose and convert it to glycogen. It also stimulates liver cells in the uptake of glucose from the blood and convert it to glycogen and inhibits production of the enzymes involved in the break down of glycogen.