A View Of Pre-diabetes And Carbohydrates -

The words carbohydrate, starch, and sugar are simple enough, but they often misused in discussions. Misinformation pervades the internet. A lot of this happens when an individual depends on forums and other participants, many who perpetuate inaccurate definitions. Terminology is not critical to following treatment routine, but clarity can improve adherence. Pre-diabetics need to be clear.

You are staring at a lable and it says the item in hand has 100 calories of carbohydrate in it, what does that mean? It means the number of calories present from both sugar and starch together.

Regardless of whether you speak of a sugar or a starch, they are both carbohydrates. Table sugar is sucrose - glucose and fructose, but there are lots of other sugars. They are all single sugars, or simple carbohydrates. Hook them in a chain or web them out like a tinker toy and you have a starch: a starch is a group of linked sugars called a complex carbohydrate.

Even the most elaborate carbohydrate is far less complex than a protein. That means a carbohydrate can be disassembled faster than a protein making it more available for immediate energy.

A balanced meal provides protein, carbohydrate and oil, and for a reason when it comes to energy. Carbohydrates are utilized for the first two hours, then protein takes the helm and finally oil.

You will notice that when energy is discussed carbohydrates take center stage. The common reasoning is that sugar is the only fuel for energy.

Oils, or fat is the other fuel, and it is seldom discussed when energy is the subject. Much of the acetic acid, or acetate used in burning sugar is derived from food oils. In some individuals, oils are more important than sugar when it comes to producing energy from foods. Pre-diabetics rarely know this.

A diet that derives 50 percent of its calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from oils and 20 percent from proteins may have been found to be optimal for most diabetics and pre-diabetics, but there are likely individuals who metabolically require a different balance.

It is important to take into consideration all of the factors in the diet, and outside the diabetic and pre-diabetic diet, in controlling blood sugar, and not to obsess endlessly on carbs, carbs, carbs.