Some Fruits For Diabetics

Posted by admin in Prescription Diabetes Drugs on October 03rd, 2010

To keep their blood sugar level down to a normal value, diabetics must refrain from foods that are rich in cholesterol and fats. Fruits are highly recommended if you have been diagnosed with this condition, as they are light, have a high nutritive value and are rich in vitamins and fiber. However, keep in mind that fruit juices, even if they are natural, should be consumed with moderation, as they are concentrated and contain a high level of sugar and sweeteners.

Apples are one of the most recommended fruits for diabetics. They have a large concentration of pectin, a detoxifying substance that supplies the body with galacturonic acid used to remove waste from the bloodstream. Consumed by your medic’s advice, apples can lower the insulin required by your organism by as much as 35%. Apples are also known to help in preventing damage of the peripheral nervous system, a known effect of diabetes.

Grapefruits also have a high therapeutic value and can aid in managing your diabetes. Within only a few days, grapefruits can lower the blood sugar level when complemented by a diet low on sugar and fats. Since grapefruits grow large, experts recommend having not more than half a fruit at or after a meal, or its curative effects will disappear.

Fruits should be consumed at least three or four times throughout the day. However, based on your actual blood glucose levels, your doctor or diabetes treatment team can recommend fruits to stay away from. Bananas, mango and pineapple, for example, have a high glycemic index and should be avoided by diabetics. Also, a patient should keep in mind that all fruits are to be consumed moderately. Choose a medium sized fruit over a large one, or only eat half of it at one meal.

You have the GOOD and BAD in everything. Many people are having one major doubt whether there are bad and good fruits for diabetics. Many of the diabetic patients are not convinced by any answer to this question because they have a mythical belief that the diabetics should never eat fruits at all. This belief is based on the fact that most of the fruits have sugar content. But it is baseless and not admitted by the dietitians because the fruits have nutritional value in themselves. Besides, some fruits are indeed good and needed for the diabetics.

Recent researches on diabetes declare that the diabetics should eat fruits as well as root vegetables with other foods. If the diabetics eat fruits with nuts, the fat in the nuts helps to keep the other foods consumed to stay long in the digestive system. Since the foods that contain fat or protein are slowly digested, eating fruits with nuts and unpeeled skin can control blood glucose levels. So, it is emphasized that the diabetics are benefited when they eat fruits with other foods, not alone as snacks. Fortunately, you have many fruits good for diabetics.

Good fruits for diabetics:

Foods rich in fiber are in general safe for diabetics to eat. Since they have a lower glycemic index, they don’t allow the blood sugar levels to spike as those foods with high glycemic index do. This is because of the characteristics of the fiber to slash down the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. So, the fruits rich in fiber with edible skins and seeds are good fruits for the diabetes.

Fortunately, you have some healthy fruits rich in fiber content that can help controlling blood sugar. The fruits with high fiber content are apple, blueberry, and pomegranate whereas the fruits like apricot, kiwifruit and pear are comparatively low in fiber content.

Fruits with high fructose are also helping to the diabetics in the sense that fructose does not require insulin and can act independently in the human metabolism of the insulin resistant diabetics. The fruits that are high in fructose include apple, guava, pear and mango.

Raw fruits like apples are rich in pectin which is needed to improve controlling glycemic condition of the diabetics. It is also potent enough to metabolize effectively even when there is poor secretion of insulin.

Red grape is another fruit that can give all benefits to the diabetics. Grapes are good fruits for weight loss which is needed to reduce insulin resistance. You have increased benefits of fruits fiber if grapefruits are consumed just after the meal.

Bad fruits for diabetics:

Fruits with high sugar should be consumed in small servings to help controlling blood glucose. They can still be relished as part of a healthy diet meal plan. Fruits with high glucose include banana, watermelon and orange.

Fruit Jam, dried fruits and canned fruits also tend to increase blood sugar whereas consuming fresh fruits can help control blood sugar. The syrup in the canned fruits contains saturated sugar. It is safe that you eat such fruits after draining the syrup with sugar.