Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are one of the three major nutrients present in foods apart from proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are mainly made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen apart from many other compounds. They are present in vegetables, starchy foods, grains, cereals, and animal foods. Carbohydrates are a major source of energy and they contain starches, sugars, and fibers. They are also known as saccharides. They consist of monosaccharides, and disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Carbohydrates contain sugars like glucose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, sorbitol, and mannitol. They also contain amylose, modified starches, cellulose, and other components that are essential for metabolism. Metabolized carbohydrates are used as fuel and are stored in cells. Carbohydrates are a major form of nutrition and are made of simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates contain sugars and are an immediate source of energy; however, some simple carbohydrates have a tendency to spike the blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Complex carbohydrates are contained in whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and starchy vegetables. While starchy vegetables are known to raise the blood sugar levels quickly, other complex carbohydrates take time to digest and release glucose into the bloodstream relatively slowly due to the fiber content and lower glycemic content. Complex carbohydrates contain minerals, vitamins, and fiber and so are better suited for people with diabetes. People with diabetes have to count their carbohydrates for glycemic control. This can be done by controlling the portion sizes of each meal and by using the food labels that mention the nutritional value of each food. By controlling the number of grams of carbohydrates in each meal and matching it with physical exercise, one can achieve better glycemic control. Consuming excess amount of carbohydrates leads to high blood sugar levels and weight gain and consuming lesser amounts of carbohydrates can lead to ketosis.