Found in foods, glucose is an important source of immediate energy for the body. Glucose can also be stored as other forms in the liver and muscles for later use.
Excess glucose is converted to fat.
Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain, and is especially important for babies and young children. Complex hormonal and neurologic mechanisms regulate the amount of glucose between meals. During pregnancy, glucose is passed to the fetus from the mother through the placenta. Some of the glucose is stored as glycogen in the placenta and later, in the fetal liver, heart, and muscles. These stores are important for supplying the baby s brain with glucose during delivery, and for nutrition after the baby is born .