Which of the following is listed as a health issue related to carbohydrates?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Diabetes
• C. Lactose intolerance
• D. Celiac disease

Answer: (B)

Carbohydrate metabolism and its impact on blood glucose is what this item is assessing. When carbohydrates are consumed, they are broken down into glucose that enters the bloodstream. The body relies on insulin to move that glucose into cells for energy. If insulin is deficient or its action is impaired, blood glucose remains high, which is the hallmark of diabetes. This makes diabetes directly related to how the body handles carbohydrates.

Hypertension has many contributing factors and isn’t a direct consequence of carbohydrate processing. Lactose intolerance involves difficulty digesting a specific carbohydrate (lactose) due to lactase deficiency, which is a digestive intolerance rather than a systemic metabolic disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to a protein (gluten), not a carbohydrate.