'glucose-associated' is a compound of 'glucose' and 'associated'. 'glucose' originates from Modern French 'glucose', ultimately from Greek 'glykys' (root 'glyk-'), where 'glyk-' meant 'sweet'. 'associated' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'associare', where the prefix 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and the root 'sociāre' meant 'to join or unite' (via Old French 'associer').

'glucose' entered English in the 19th century from French 'glucose' (itself from Greek 'glykys'), and 'associated' entered English via Old French 'associer' from Latin 'associare'. The compound expression developed in modern scientific English from the phrase 'associated with glucose' to the hyphenated attributive adjective 'glucose-associated'.

Initially, 'glucose' referred to 'sweet' substances and 'associated' meant 'joined with'; over time the compound evolved in scientific usage to mean specifically 'linked with glucose' or 'occurring in association with glucose'.