Glucose (/ˈɡluːkoʊs/ or /-koʊz/; C6H12O6, an aa kent as D-glucose, dextrose, or grape sugar) is a simple monosaccharide foond in plants. It is ane o the three dietary monosaccharides, alang wi fructose an galactose, that are absorbed directly intae the bluidstream durin digestion. An important carbohydrate in biology, cells uise it as the primary soorce o energy an a metabolic intermediate. Glucose is ane o the main products o photosynthesis an fuels for cellular respiration. Glucose exists in several different molecular structures, but aw o these structurs can be dividit intae twa faimilies o mirror-images (stereoisomers). Anly ane set o these isomers exists in naitur, those derived frae the ""richt-haundit furm"" o glucose, denotit D-glucose. D-glucose is sometimes referred tae as dextrose, altho the uise o this name is strangly discouraged. The term dextrose is derived frae dextrorotatory glucose. This name is tharefore confusin when applied tae the enantiomer, which rotates licht in the opposite direction. Starch an cellulose are polymers derived frae the dehydration o D-glucose. The ither stereoisomer, cried L-glucose, is hairdly ever foond in naitur.