Carbohydrates Flashcards
What is the basic unit of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
What do carbohydrates contain and in what ratio?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1 - Cn(H2O)n
What three sugars make us the hexose sugars?
Glucose, fructose and galactose
What are Disaccharides and Polysaccharides?
Disaccharides - Pair of monosaccharaides
Polysaccharides - Chain of monosaccharaides (>9)
What is a normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood?
4.5 - 5.5 mmol/L (Euglycaemia)
What do Hyperglycaemia and Hypoglycaemia mean?
Hyperglycaemia - Blood glucose above normal
Hypoglycaemia - Blood glucose below normal
What are five symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Decreased concentration Decreased alertness Nausea Cold sweat Dizzyness
What are five symptoms of hyperglycemia?
Frequent urination Hunger Excessive thirst Blurred vision Fatigue
What Happens When Glucose Concentration Rises?
Stimulus detect blood rise
Receptor sends beta cells to stimulate the pancreas
Corrective Mechanism in the pancreas uses Islets of Langerhans to secrete insulin, which is transported by blood to liver and muscles
Permeability of cell surface membrane to glucose increases
Liver and muscles convert the excess glucose to glycogen.
Blood glucose concentration decreases and insulin production falls. Blood glucose concentration returns to normal
What Happens When Glucose Concentration Falls?
Stimulus detect blood glucose concentration falls below normal levels
Receptor send Alpha cells in Islets of Langerhans in pancreas
Corrective Mechanism in the pancreas uses Alpha cells to secrete glucagon, which is transported by blood to liver and muscles
Glucagon converts stored glycogen back to glucose. From liver, glucose enters bloodstream
Blood glucose concentration rises and glucagon production decreases
Blood glucose concentration returns to normal
What is the Glycaemic Load?
The glycaemic load (GL), is a function of a food’s glycaemic index and its total available carbohydrate content and defined as:
Glycaemic Load = GI (%) x Carbohydrate (g).
