Efficacy of Instant Glucose-Reply

In a study using normal volunteers, we demonstrated a failure of direct oral absorption of glucose from instant glucose. Absorption of tritium-labeled glucose through the buccal mucosa was also not observed. The free glucose content of this preparation was found to average only 143 milligrams of glucose per gram of instant glucose. Since instant glucose is manufactured using a commercial corn syrup base, the bulk of carbohydrates in this preparation was thought to consist of disacharides and oligosaccharides. Thus, it was concluded that the only likely mechanism by which glucose could be absorbed in sufficiently large quantities to reverse hypoglycemic coma in diabetic subjects would involve first intestinal hydrolysis and then absorption.

We are indebted to Dr Rosenbaum and his colleagues for providing their experience using instant glucose at the Cleveland diabetic camp. Since most carbohydrate in instant glucose is disaccharides and oligosaccharides, which require disaccharidases for hydrolysis