How does hyperglycemia occur?
Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body. Glucose comes from ingested food and is absorbed in the intestine. It is then metabolized by: 1) Energy production Glycolysis 2) Conversion to amino acids and proteins or keto-acids 3) Storage as glycogen Glucose does not always enter the body in the form of glucose however it can be formed from the digestion of dietary carbohydrates. Dietary carbohydrates enter the body in complex forms, such as disaccharides and the polymers starch and glycogen. The polymer cellulose is also consumed but not digested. The first step in the metabolism of digestible carbohydrate is the conversion of the higher polymers to simpler, soluble forms that can be transported across the intestinal wall and delivered to the tissues. The breakdown of polymeric sugars begins in the mouth. Saliva has a slightly acidic pH of approximately 6.8 and contains lingual amylase that begins the digestion of carbohydrates. The action of lingual amylase is limited to the
