"Sugar Man Carbon Case", a closer look at carbohydrates

As we all know, dietary therapy is one of the necessary methods for treating diabetes, and diabetes treatment without dietary control is ineffective.

Diabetic patients must control their diet throughout their lives. Reasonable diet control is the most basic and important treatment method.

Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the human body. Each gram of carbohydrates can generate 4 kcal of heat energy in the human body. Carbohydrates can release energy quickly, especially glucose, which can be oxidized quickly to provide energy to meet the needs of the body. The final products of oxidation are carbon dioxide and water.

The specific functions of carbohydrates are as follows:

Provides heat

The energy required by the brain, nervous system and red blood cells is mainly provided by glucose metabolism.

Protect body tissue protein

In order for the brain and nervous system to obtain sufficient glucose, a certain blood sugar concentration must be maintained. The normal value is about 70-150 mg of glucose per 100 ml of plasma. When blood sugar is low, if there is no carbohydrate storage in the body, tissue protein metabolism will be broken down and converted into glucose to maintain blood sugar and the function of important organs. Sufficient carbohydrate intake can protect tissue protein from being broken down and consumed.

Avoiding ketoacidosis

When there is insufficient glucose in the body, many cells use fatty acids as their main energy source. Incomplete oxidation of fatty acids can produce a large number of ketone bodies, and the accumulation of a large number of ketone bodies has adverse effects on the body. In order to fully utilize fatty acids, at least 150 grams of carbohydrates are needed every day.

Synthesis of glycogen storage

The body uses glucose to synthesize glycogen, which is stored in the liver and muscles. The glycogen in the liver can help maintain the stability of blood sugar. The glycogen in the muscles is mainly used for muscle activity.

Dietary fiber has health benefits

Cellulose, a polysaccharide in carbohydrates that cannot be digested and absorbed, can prevent or treat digestive tract symptoms such as constipation and diverticulosis, and is beneficial to the health of the digestive tract. It regulates the absorption of fat and carbohydrates, helps control blood sugar and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Other physiological and biochemical effects

It constitutes the liver's detoxification system, connective tissue components, genetic material DNA, RNA components, and lactose helps calcium absorption, etc.

Therefore, carbohydrates are essential in the diet of "diabetics". Each patient should eat enough food under the guidance of a nutritionist or endocrinologist, eat healthily, and control sugar levels scientifically.

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