Glucose uptake experiments are commonly used to measure cellular metabolic activity and glucose transport. Glucose uptake can be studied using radiolabeled glucose itself, or radiolabeled glucose analogs such as 2-deoxy-D-glucose (DOG) or 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (OMG).

The most common technique is use of radiolabeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a glucose analog. Once 2-deoxy-D-glucose has been taken up by cells, it is phosphorylated and cannot be metabolized further. Labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose phosphate is trapped in the cell (unidirectional transport).