Question

Carbohydrate comes in the form of Sugar, Starch, Glycogen, and Fiber.

What are the difference(s) between simple and complex carbohydrate?

Give an example of each types of simple and complex carbohydrate.

What are the main functions of carbohydrate in the body?

List the steps of carbohydrate digestion from the mouth to the large intestine.

Diabetes:
Click on the “Resources/Web Links” folder. Go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Click on the following tabs: Diseases and Conditions; Diabetes. Then answer the following questions:

What is the difference between Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes?

How many Americans are diagnosed with diabetes vs Pre-diabetes?

What are the different types of diabetes?

What are the causes of diabetes?

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

How is diabetes diagnosed?

What are the long-term consequences/complications of diabetes?

Can Pre-diabetes be reversed? Explain your answer.

Can diabetes be reversed?

How can diabetes be managed?

Now let’s take a look at diabetes closer to home.
Go to the New York City Department of Health (NYC Health) website and look up diabetes (Type diabetes in the search box).

How many New Yorkers are diagnosed with diabetes?

What Diabetes Prevention/Intervention Programs are available in NYC?

Answer 1

Differences between simple and complex carbohydrate

• Complex carbohydrates comprise of three or more linked sugar molecules while simple carbohydrates with one or two sugar molecules.
• The digestion process is quick in case of simple carbohydrates and is slow in complex carbohydrates.
• Blood glucose level rises instantly when simple carbohydrate is consumed but only gradually on complex carbohydrates consumption.

Examples of complex carbohydrate

• bread
• cake
• broccoli

Examples of simple carbohydrate

• table sugar
• candy
• syrup

Main functions of carbohydrate in the body

• Providing the body with the stamina required for the muscles, brain and central nervous system.
• Manage the blood glucose level
• Saving the proteins for energy.
• Smashing down fatty acids.
• Producing dietary fiber
• Gives natural sweeteness for foods.

Steps of carbohydrate digestion from the mouth to the large intestine

• Mouth Stomach Small Intestine Large intestine

Mouth

The saliva wets the food in the mouth delivering enzyme amylase, leading to the breakdown process of the sugars in the carbohydrates.

Stomach

Food reaches the stomach through the esophagus and the stomach produces acid to destroy the bacteria present in the food (chyme).

Small intestine

Food enters the duodenum, which indeed causes the pancreas to discharge pancreatic amylase, breaking down the chyme into dextrin and maltose. Lactase, sucrase, and maltase produced by the small intestine break down the sugars into monosaccharides. When absorbed, it is treated by the liver and deposited as glucogen.

Large intestine

The remains go to the large intestine where it is broken down by the bacteria and finally the fibers are excreted via stools.