From the Guidelines
Examples of 15 grams of glucose, sucrose, and fructose can be found in various common foods and beverages, such as 4 glucose tablets, 1 tablespoon of honey, or about 1/3 cup of grape juice for glucose, 1 tablespoon or 3 teaspoons of granulated sugar for sucrose, and one medium apple, one large banana, or about 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup for fructose, as supported by evidence from 1.
When considering the treatment of hypoglycemia, it is essential to understand the glycemic response of different carbohydrates. According to 1, the glycemic response correlates better with the glucose content than with the carbohydrate content of the food. Glucose is preferred for treating hypoglycemia, as it produces a greater rise in plasma glucose than other carbohydrates, such as those found in orange juice or milk.
Some key points to consider when managing hypoglycemia include:
- Initial response to treatment should be seen in 10–20 min, but blood glucose should be evaluated again in 60 min, as additional treatment may be necessary, as stated in 1.
- Glucose is the preferred treatment for hypoglycemia, although any form of carbohydrate that contains glucose may be used, as supported by 1.
- Ingestion of 15–20 g of glucose is effective treatment for hypoglycemia, but blood glucose may be only temporarily corrected, as noted in 1.
In terms of specific examples, 15 grams of glucose can be found in:
- 4 glucose tablets (typically used for treating hypoglycemia)
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- About 1/3 cup of grape juice For sucrose (table sugar), 15 grams equals about:
- 1 tablespoon or 3 teaspoons of granulated sugar
- Commonly added to coffee or used in baking For fructose, 15 grams can be found in:
- Approximately one medium apple
- One large banana
- About 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup
Understanding these equivalents is useful for people managing diabetes or those monitoring their carbohydrate intake, as 15 grams of carbohydrate is often considered one serving in dietary planning, as mentioned in 1.
From the Research
Examples of 15 grams of glucose, sucrose, and fructose
- 15 grams of glucose is equivalent to approximately 3-4 teaspoons of glucose 2, 3
- 15 grams of sucrose is equivalent to approximately 3-4 teaspoons of table sugar, which contains both glucose and fructose 2, 3
- 15 grams of fructose is equivalent to approximately 3-4 teaspoons of fructose, which is often consumed as high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose 4, 5
Comparison of glucose, sucrose, and fructose
- Glucose and fructose are typically consumed together in roughly equal proportions from high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose 3
- Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose molecules 2, 3
- Fructose metabolism has been implicated as a potential contributor to cardiometabolic disease, but the evidence is still controversial 4, 5, 6
Normal consumption levels
- Normal added sugars in the human diet, such as sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup, do not appear to cause a unique risk of obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease when consumed within normal ranges 2, 3
- Excessive sugar consumption, including fructose, has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic disease, but the evidence is still limited 4, 5, 6