Carbohydrates 101 by

C. Zhaleh Gazori, R.D., C.D.E.

Challenges with hospitalized patients

Sick

Poor appetite

Medication induced hyperglycemia

Off their home meds (orals typically) and on insulin

Multiple people seeing pt, food often gets cold, affects intake

Patients on room service, difficult to know when they ordered

What can you do

What can you as the RN do?

*DO NOT police your patients

Educate/encourage better choices

Ask about education

Suggest outpatient education if warranted

Request DM ed referral

Carbohydrates turn to

glucose/sugar in the blood Our body requires glucose for

energy. The purest form of glucose comes

from a carbohydrate. What are sources of carbohydrates Milk/Yogurt Starches/Grains Bread, crackers, rice, pasta,

tortillas, potatoes (including yams and sweet potatoes), corn, peas

Fruits Sweets

Carbohydrates

Types of Carbs

Simple Honey

Milk sugar (galactose)

Fructose

Sugar

Molasses, syrup

Jam, jelly, marmalade

Real soda, juice, sugary drinks

Pies, candy, etc…

Complex Pasta, rice, beans,

lentils

Bread, tortillas,

Cereals

Potatoes, peas, corn, etc..

Counting carbs can help you…

Manage blood sugars with a consistent intake

Increase flexibility with options/choices

All food can fit, it’s just how much?

1 Carb choice = 15 grams Total Carb

Carbs are portioned into 15 gm units

½ c beans, lentils, potatoes

1/3 c. rice, pasta

3/4c. Dry cereal

1 oz bread

1/2c. Cooked cereal

Fruit servings:

4 oz. Fruit juice

1 small fresh fruit

1/2c. Canned fruit

8oz of milk

6-8 oz yogurt

Simple sugars:

1T syrup, honey, jam

2 small cookies

1T sugar

Dairy servings Starch servings

Consistent carb approach at UCIMC:

Consistent Carb (VL) 30-45 g/meal (6-9 servings/day)

Consistent Carb (L) 45-60 g/meal (9-12 servings/day)

Consistent Carb (M) 60-75 g/meal (12-15 servings/day)

Consistent Carb (H) 75-105 g/ meal (15-21 servings/day)

Consistent Carb (VH) 105-120 g/meal (21-24 servings/day)

Gestational DM: 15-30/15/30-45/30/30-45/30 (12 servings/day)

Spread food out over the day into smaller meals or

snacks-especially carbohydrates

Eat a variety of food including a lot of vegetables

Eat a similar amount of food from day to day

Avoid skipping meals or snacks to prevent over-eating later in the day

Eat 3 balanced meals and 1-3 snacks per day

Men Women

Meals 45-60 grams carb 30-45 grams carb

Snacks 30 grams carb 15 grams carb

Balance out carbohydrates

Add your protein

Add your free veggies

Use limited amounts of total fat and choose healthy fats.

Food Label

1. Identify serving size

2. Identify how much carbohydrate?

3. 27gms is close to two servings of carbohydrate.

We identify the total, not just sugars; all carb will bring blood sugars up.

Quiz Carb or not

Apple

Egg

Avocado

Lentils

Jicama

Corn

Spaghetti squash

Pizza

Yam

Peas

Milk

Banana

Carrots

Black beans

Corn tortilla

Chicken

Hamburger

Orange juice

Cake

Zucchini

How many sugar packets (each packet is 9 g of carb)

Starbucks Frappucinno

12 oz soda

Jack in the Box Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

1 Banana

1 cup cooked noodles or rice

8 oz milk

1 Naked Juice

In & Out Burger/Fries

7 = 63 g carb

4.5 = 41 g carb

14.8 = 133 g carb

3.5 = 30 g carb

5 = 45 g carb

1.3 = 12 g carb

7.3 = 66 g carb

10.3 = 93 g carb

What questions do you have?