Glucose metabolism is like the body's energy factory. It's a series of chemical reactions that convert glucose, from what we eat, into fuel that cells can use. It starts with glycolysis, turning glucose into pyruvate, and that pyruvate can either go aerobic, heading into the mitochondria for the Krebs cycle, or anaerobic, becoming lactate when oxygen's tight. The end game? ATP, the energy currency that keeps the lights on in our cells. It's a bustling process, crucial for keeping us going!