CARBOHYDRATES

THE NATURE OF
CARBOHYDRATES
DISEASES
WHAT ARE
CARBOHYDRATES MADE
OF?
Carbohydrates are made up of
the elements: carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen.
The basic building blocks or
units of carbohydrates are
monosaccharides.
What are the differences
between the different types of
carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides are
the basic building
blocks of all other
carbohydrates.
Disaccharides are
made up of two
monosaccharide
units.
Polysaccharides are
made up of many
monosaccharide
units
Are there any other differences
between carbohydrates?
The other main difference between the types
of carbohydrates is their sweetness and
solubility.

Monosaccharides – sweet, soluble

examples: glucose, fructose and galatose
Disaccharides – sweet and soluble
examples: maltose, sucrose and lactose
Polysaccharides – Not sweet, insoluble
examples: starch, glycogen and cellulose
What are carbohydrates used
for and where can you get
them?
Carbohydrates are used for energy.
Good and healthy sources of them
include potatoes (especially sweet
potatoes), rice (brown) and fruit and
some vegetables like pumpkin and
carrots which have sugars.
DISEASES ASSOCIATED
WITH CARBOHYDRATES

OBESITY – excessive body fat or a

weight or mass far in excess of the
recommended body mass index.
HYPERGLYCEMIA – too much blood
sugar
HYPOGLYCEMIA – too little blood sugar
DIABETES MELLITUS – problems with
insulin
Obesity - excessive body fat or a
weight or mass far in excess of the
recommended body mass index.
Excess carbohydrates are either stored as glycogen or
converted to fat. This can lead to obesity.
Causes
Too much fat and or carbohydrates in diet.
Too little exercise or physical activity.
Hormonal problems
Medicine

Problems
Low self esteem because of teasing.
More likely to develop diabetes, hypertension or heart
problems.
Problems breathing.
HYPERGLYCEMIA – too much blood
sugar
HYPOGLYCEMIA – too little blood sugar

HYPERGLYCEMIA – Blood sugar level

greater than 160 mg/100 cm3.
Symptoms: excess thirst and urination
and a fruity breath odor.
HYPOGLYCEMIA – Blood sugar level
less than 80 mg/100 cm3
DIABETES MELLITIS –
problems with insulin
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone which is produced in the pancreas.
It converts excess glucose into glycogen in the liver i.e.
it lowers the blood sugar level.

Type I Diabetes
Insulin dependent – the body does not produce
enough insulin or none at all.

Type II Diabetes
Non insulin dependent – insulin is produced but is
rendered useless, usually because of obesity
DIABETES – SYMPTOMS

Hunger
Loss of weight
Slow healing of skin infections
Itching especially between the toes
Excess thirst and urination
Weakened eye sight
 Tiredness
Sexual dysfunction
Eventually the person may develop:
high blood pressure, heart disease,
kidney damage and blindness caused
Blurred
by vision
nerve damage.
Weakness
Tiredness
Sexual dysfunction
Eventually the person may develop: high
blood pressure, heart disease, kidney
damage and blindness caused by nerve
damage.
DIABETES - TREATMENT

TYPE 1
Blood sugar level checks.
Regular injections with insulin.
No consumption of sugar.
TYPE 2
Reduce carbohydrate intake
Exercise
Diabetes medicine
Insulin shots if disease is not controlled.