'non-glucose-associated' is a compound formed from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not'), 'glucose' (from French 'glucose', ultimately from Greek 'glykys' meaning 'sweet'), and 'associate' (from Latin 'associare'/'associare', related to 'socius' meaning 'companion' or 'ally').

'glucose' entered scientific English via French in the 19th century from Greek roots meaning 'sweet'; 'associate' came into English via Old French 'associer' from Latin 'associare' (related to 'socius'). The modern compound 'non-glucose-associated' is a descriptive, post-classical English formation using the negative prefix 'non-' plus a noun and a past-participial adjective.

Originally the components meant 'not' (for 'non-'), 'sweet' (for 'glucose'), and 'to join or be linked' (for 'associate'); combined in modern usage they mean 'not linked to glucose' or 'not associated with glucose'.