Sugars

All carbohydrates are built from saccharide sub-units.  The smallest of these chains containing three or fewer saccharide units are generally classified as sugars.

Glucose, galactose, and fructose are examples of "single" sugars or monosaccharides.

Two monosaccharides can be linked together to form a "double" sugar or disaccharide.  Common examples of disaccharides are:

• sucrose - common table sugar = glucose + fructose
• lactose - major sugar in milk = glucose + galactose
• maltose - product of starch digestion = glucose + glucose

Due to the small size of these carbohydrates, they are easily digested and can often be the cause of rapid blood sugar (glucose) increases.