Patient was educated on role of carbohydrates as follows:
- Together with fats and proteins, carbohydrates are one of the major nutrients. Simple dietary carbohydrates and sugars in the blood, upon metabolism, are easily broken down into glucose, which helps with quick energy needs of the body.
- Carbohydrates are easier to be metabolized, compared to fats and proteins. As carbohydrates are easily broken down to glucose, they can act as primary source of energy. Each gram of carbohydrate, upon metabolism, yields 4 calories of energy for body needs. Deficiency of carbohydrates can result in energy deprivation and weakness.
- Carbohydrates are also stored as glycogen, in the liver and muscle. Upon exhausting carbohydrates readily available in the blood for energy needs, glycogen in the liver & muscle can be metabolized and broken down to meet the body’s energy needs.
- During carbohydrate deficiency states, human body relies on other nutrient sources, such as, protein and fat, for body’s energy needs. As human body depends primarily on carbohydrates for energy needs, optimum carbohydrate intake helps with reducing protein breakdown and contribute to preserving integrity of muscle tissue.
