What it means
The sugars, starches and fiber found in bread, rice, pasta, fruit, milk and sweets. The body breaks most of them down into glucoseGLOO-kohsA simple sugar that is the body's main source of energy.gluc/o sweet, sugar-ose sugarFull entry , its main fuel. Fiber is a carbohydrate the body cannot digest; it helps the bowels move. Clients with diabetes learn to count carbohydrates, because they raise the blood glucose more than protein or fat.
For the nurse
In treating low blood glucose, the client is given 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate (such as 4 ounces of juice) and rechecked in 15 minutes. Teach clients with diabetes to match carbohydrate intake with their insulin dose.
In a chart
"Client counts 45–60 g carbohydrate per meal, as taught by the dietitian."
At a glance
| Spanish | carbohidrato |
|---|---|
| Also written | carbohydrates, carbs, carb |
Related terms
insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.
hypoglycemia
A blood glucose level below normal, under 70 mg/dL.
diabetes mellitus
A long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
glucose
A simple sugar that is the body's main source of energy.