'glucose-lowering' originates from modern English as a compound of 'glucose' and 'lowering'. 'Glucose' comes from Neo-Latin/French (French 'glucose', Neo-Latin 'glucosum'), ultimately from Greek 'glykys' meaning 'sweet'; 'lowering' is formed from the verb 'lower' (Old English/West Germanic roots meaning 'to make low') plus the gerund/participle suffix '-ing'.

'glucose' was coined in the early 19th century (e.g., by chemists such as Chevreul) from Greek 'glykys' via Neo-Latin/French; 'lower' developed from Old English and other Germanic sources meaning 'low' or 'to make low', and '-ing' has been used since Old English to form verbal nouns and participles—the two elements were combined in modern English to form the compound adjective 'glucose-lowering'.

Initially the components referred to 'sweet' (glucose) and the action 'making low'; composed together they have long meant 'causing a lowering of glucose' and this medical/technical sense has become the established modern meaning.