dextrose

Types of dextrose
dry dextrose
Anhydrous dextrose is a form of glucose made from corn starch. It has a sweet taste just like sugar, but is about 20% less sweet compared to cane sugar. Dry dextrose does not contain water and is produced in crystal or powder form. Dextrose is a monosaccharide, also known as a simple sugar, like fructose and glucose. Simple sugars can be combined to produce complex sugars such as sucrose. While the human body metabolizes every unit of simple sugar, complex sugars are not easily metabolized by the body.

Dry dextrose is widely used as a food additive and sweetener in food production. In addition to food, it is also used in beverages, animal feed, pharmaceuticals and other industries.

Oral dextrose and its use in food
Dextrose is a sugar obtained from corn and sometimes other plants. Its primary use in foods is as a sweetener, especially in baked goods. Due to its wide availability, most packaged foods often also contain dextrose. In addition to flavoring foods, dextrose can also help neutralize foods that are too spicy or salty.

Effects of dextrose on the diet of bodybuilders
Some bodybuilders use dextrose as a post-workout supplement to replenish glycogen stores. Glycogen is a form of glucose that the body stores for energy. When a person does intense exercise, the body uses some of the stored glycogen.

Many bodybuilders add dextrose tablets or powder to water and drink it after a workout to replenish glycogen stores as quickly as possible to aid muscle recovery.

liquid dextrose
Dextrose is a form of glucose (sugar). 5% liquid dextrose in water is injected intravenously into a vein to replace lost fluids and provide carbohydrates to the body. Liquid dextrose is used to treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), insulin shock, or dehydration (loss of fluid).

Liquid dextrose is given for nutritional support to patients who cannot eat due to illness, injury or other problems. Liquid dextrose is sometimes used as a diluent (liquid) to prepare injectable medications in an IV bag.

Effects of dextrose
Dextrose also has medical purposes. This substance is administered intravenously as solutions that can be combined with other medications or used to increase a person’s blood sugar.

Because dextrose is a “simple” sugar, the body can quickly use it for energy. Simple sugars can raise blood sugar levels very quickly and often have no nutritional value. Examples of other simple sugars include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Products commonly made from simple sugars include refined sugar, pasta and honey.

What is a common dextrose preparation?
Dextrose is used to make a variety of ready-to-use or intravenous (IV) products that may only be available in hospitals or healthcare facilities. Dextrose is also available without a prescription as an oral gel or oral tablet. Each concentration of dextrose has its own unique uses. Higher concentrations are often used as “rescue” doses when someone’s blood sugar is too low.

How to use dextrose?
Effects of dextrose: Dextrose is used in different concentrations for different purposes. For example, if the body is dehydrated and blood sugar is low, the doctor may prescribe dextrose in IV solution. IV dextrose solutions can also be combined with many doctor-prescribed medications.

Other effects of dextrose: Dextrose is a carbohydrate that is part of the diet in normal nutrition. Solutions containing dextrose provide calories and can be administered intravenously along with amino acids and fats. This is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and is used to provide nutrition to people who cannot absorb or take in carbohydrates, amino acids, and fats through the intestines.

High concentration dextrose injection is performed only by experts. These injections are given to people who have very low blood sugar and cannot swallow pills, food, or drinks containing dextrose.

If a person’s potassium level is very high (hyperkalemia), sometimes doctors also give a 50% dextrose injection followed by intravenous insulin. This can be done in a hospital setting. When cells take in excess glucose, they also take in potassium. This helps reduce the level of potassium in the blood. Dextrose is prescribed to prevent hypoglycemia. Insulin is treated with increased potassium.

People with diabetes or hypoglycemia (chronically low blood sugar) can take dextrose gel or tablets if their blood sugar drops too low. The gels or tablets dissolve in a person’s mouth and quickly raise blood sugar levels. If a person’s blood sugar is below 70 mg/dL and they have symptoms of low blood sugar, they may need to take dextrose tablets. Examples of low blood sugar symptoms include fatigue, confusion, sweating, and extremely fast heart rate.