carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. They are a possible source of energy for the human body and occur in the diet as sugars, starches and fibers. These different forms each have their own structure and therefore a different effect on blood sugar levels and metabolism.
Convert to glucose
Monosaccharides form the smallest building blocks within carbohydrates. Examples of this are glucose and fructose. More complex carbohydrates, such as starch, consist of long chains of these smaller sugar molecules. During digestion, these structures are broken down into smaller units, ultimately mainly into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood via the intestine.
Glucose plays an important role in energy supply. The body can use glucose for direct energy production or temporarily store it as glycogen in the liver and muscles. When there is more glucose than needed, the excess can be converted into fat.
Dependent on insulin
Insulin plays a regulatory role in making glucose from the blood available to cells. Insulin allows glucose to be absorbed into cells. How well this works depends on the cell's sensitivity to insulin. When cells respond well to insulin, glucose can be used efficiently for energy production. When this sensitivity decreases, glucose remains in the blood longer and a situation arises in which fuel is available, but it is used less effectively.
It is important that glucose does not have to come exclusively from food. The body is able to produce glucose itself when necessary. This happens, among other things, via the liver. Carbohydrates are therefore not an essential nutrient in the sense that they must be eaten in order for glucose to be available. The body has mechanisms to regulate blood sugar levels even without direct carbohydrate intake.
This does not mean that carbohydrates are necessarily problematic, but that the amount and frequency of intake are important. In the current nutritional environment and by following the advice of the Nutrition Center, the system is continuously challenged by frequent eating moments and a high intake of (refined) carbohydrates. This causes blood sugar to rise regularly and the body to produce insulin repeatedly.
Insulin resistance and diabetes
When this happens for a long time, cells can become less sensitive to insulin. This process is called insulin resistance. In that situation, glucose is absorbed less efficiently and blood sugar levels remain elevated. The body tries to compensate for this by producing more insulin, while at the same time storing excess glucose as fat.
Chronic insulin resistance is seen as a precursor to diabetes type 2. As cells become less and less sensitive to insulin, the pancreas has to work harder and harder to keep blood sugar under control. Ultimately, the system can become exhausted and a situation arises in which glucose cannot be regulated sufficiently. Diabetes type 2 is therefore not a sudden condition, but usually the end stage of a long-term process of dysregulation.
The body is out of balance
A chronically elevated insulin load affects multiple systems in the body. Insulin inhibits fat burning and stimulates energy storage. In addition, disrupted blood sugar regulation has consequences for processes that require a lot of energy and raw materials, such as the protection of mucous membranes and the regulation of the immune system, but also your brain and memory. When regulation comes under pressure, the production of protective substances decreases and inflammatory processes and mucus formation are given more space.
Fibers occupy a special position within carbohydrates. They are not converted directly into glucose, but serve as food for intestinal bacteria. These bacteria then produce fatty acids that can be used as an energy source by certain cells. When you don't eat carbohydrates, your body uses fat as an energy source and also makes these fatty acids.
And that causes problems
In summary, carbohydrates are one of the ways in which the body can obtain glucose, but not the only one. The body itself has systems to produce glucose and keep energy supplies stable. Problems mainly arise when the regulatory system becomes overloaded for a long time due to frequent and high glucose and insulin peaks. As a result, the body increasingly shifts towards storage and the flexibility of energy management is disrupted.
Also read the knowledge documents about fructose, lactose, sucrose and sucrose.