Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cherries and many other fruits have a lot of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and relatively small amounts of sugars and starches. Why not include these in your diabetic eating plan?

There is a wealth of misconceptions surrounding whether or not type 2 diabetics should eat fruit. Fruit is actually a great way to get vital nutrients into your body, and if the right fruits are eaten in the context of a balanced meal, there is no reason to exclude them from your diet.

The main objection to fruits being part of a diabetic diet is that they generally contain high amounts of fructose, or fruit sugar. This can hit the bloodstream quickly, causing a sharp spike in your blood sugar levels. If there is nothing present to buffer this action, the blood glucose will rise rapidly, then fall sharply.

The secret to successfully including fruits in your diet lies in the art of selection and combination. Choose fruits that are high in fiber to delay absorption by your body, and combine fruit with one or more other foods to provide steady release of sugar as each food breaks down at its own pace.

Great fruits to add to your diet include apples and pears (with skins on), berries, bananas, apricots, grapefruit and kiwifruit. All of these have high fiber content and a balance of fructose and glucose that is easy for your system to assimilate.

Fruit Juices: Processed fruit juices are high in sugar and low in fiber. A fruit and vegetable blend that is high in fiber is a better choice. Alternately, you can buy a juicer and juice whole fruits, or throw berries, bananas and unsweetened yogurt or milk in the blender for a smooth refreshing beverage.

Dried Fruits: Avoid dried fruits as the sugar content has been concentrated.

Canned Fruits: Canned fruits should also be used sparingly as the skin is usually removed from the fruit and the fruit itself is often packaged in corn syrup.

As you cut back on high sugar items in your diet, you can use fruits to curb sugar cravings… as long as you eat them in moderation and in combination with other foods. Fruit makes a great afternoon energy snack, but you should preface it with a portion of cheese or some whole wheat crackers to provide a buffer. Otherwise your sugar will skyrocket then crash… leaving you feeling worse than before.

Fruit can be an important part of any balanced diabetic diet, as long as it is eaten responsibly with an eye to the effect it can have on your blood sugar levels. Learning what your body will tolerate in the way of fruit may require some trial and error, but over time you will figure out what combinations work best to keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Here is a short list of foods to lower blood sugar level of diabetics. To achieve normal blood sugar levels is the prime aim of the treatment of diabetes. This is the only thing that assures healthier and longer lives of diabetics.

Nuts: Though it was previously assumed that nuts are not good as they are high in their fat content but now it has been proven that nuts contain only healthier fats. This healthier fats help to lower the insulin resistance. The fat content of the nuts help to lower down blood sugar by keeping the person away from binge eating. Few examples of healthier nuts are

Cashew

Brazil Nuts

Pecans

Macadamia Nuts

Almonds

Walnuts

Peanuts

There are some who have allergies towards some nuts; so it is advisable to stay away from those kinds. However those diabetics who do not have this problem must, take the nuts as regular part of their diets.

Avocado: Avocado is a fruit that carries healthy fat content. It raises the sensitivity towards insulin and lower downs the blood sugar levels. It is generally used in sauces, dips and spreads. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber that helps to slow down the increase in blood sugar level soon after big meals. It is a tasty, healthy and convenient food that helps to lower down the level of blood sugar.

Sweet Potatoes: The high fiber content of sweet potato has made them much lower in their glyceimc index value when compared with regular potatoes. The component carotenoids of sweet potatoes are powerful antioxidant and renders positive effect on the level of insulin. However one must not negate the healthy content of sweet potatoes by dipping them in sugary sauces.

Cinnamon: It is a common spice that carries a natural component that have the ability to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and make the insulin more effective. Cinnamon is high in its fiber content and is a rich and natural source of magnesium. It helps in controlling the level of blood glucose.

Onions: The flavonoid as well as sulfur content of onion causes a significant reduction on the level of blood sugar. It also increases the level of HDL. It is believed that it helps to prevent the onset of cancer because of its high antioxidant content.

Garlic: It is another food that lowers blood sugar level. It increases the production of insulin as well as insulin sensitivity. Garlic contains antioxidant properties that promote a healthier lipid profile.

Flax seed: Flax seed is not only rich in magnesium but also in lignans. Both of these components help to lower down blood sugar level. Flaxseed is also a vulnerable source of Omega 3 fatty acids. It helps to control blood sugar levels. An added advantage of flaxseed is that it aids to block the negative effect of estrogen. It also helps to delay and prevent the onset of estrogen related cancers.

Cherries: Cherries not only contain antioxidant but at the same time help to reduce the blood sugar level. Cherries are naturally rich in the fiber content and low in calories. The rich antioxidant level of cherries aids to protect heart diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Barley: It is a healthy substitute of rice for the diabetics. It has cholesterol lowering content that is also found in oats. It also significantly help to lower down the glycemic index of other food items added into it. Barley helps to give the fuller feeling to diabetics.

Lemons: Lemon is full of vitamin C. It carries limonene and rutin. The acidic property of lemon reduces the glycemic index of the food. It also contain anticancer and cholesterol lowering properties.