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?