The food choice of a person matters a lot, especially for a diabetic patient. Intake of a healthy and balanced diet can be beneficial for people with diabetes. It can help by reducing lots of health-related complications. A nutritional and balanced diet can be influential for a diabetic patient about how he feels throughout the day.
Fruits are usually considered a healthy and balanced diet. Fruits are always rich in various nutrients such as fiber, etc. However, some fruits have a high sugar content that can hike the blood sugar in an individual.
The National Institute of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases has recommende include fruits in their daily diet plan. It can help them maintain a balanced diet.
Intake of a good amount of fruits and vegetables can help lower the risk of heart-related problems. Fruits contain a high amount of vitamins, minerals, and also fiber. But some fruits have a high amount of sugar. It can be a reason for high sugar intake in a person who has diabetes.
There is also a difference in the sugar intake from fruits and sugar intake from other foods such as baked foods, chocolates, etc.
So fruits are always a good diet to be included in the diet plan of a diabetic patient. But some fruits should be avoided for a patient who has diabetes.
Fruits High In Sugar– The Glycemic Index (GI) helps by showing the amount of hike in the blood sugar level of a person after intake of the diet. Usually, fruits with the GI score between 70 to 100 show that it has a high amount of sugar in it. Following are some of the fruits with GI scores of 70 to 100:
- Watermelons
- Dried Dates
- Pineapples
- Ripe Bananas
However, these fruits mentioned above can still be eaten by a diabetic patient but in moderation. Consumption of fruits with lower scores on the Glycemic Index can help diabetic patients keep their blood sugar levels in control.
There is a myth that fruits with sugar should be completely avoided. But according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the sugar present in the fruits is different from that of the sugar present in honey, chocolates, and other food items. The sugar present in the fresh fruits is not free sugar which is added sugar and does not affect the insulin level.
Fruits High In Carbohydrates– The amount of carbohydrates intake of a person has a significant impact on the blood sugar level of a person. Carbohydrates turn into glucose after entering the body. It has a significant effect on the blood sugar level of the body. An individual should try to analyze what type of carbohydrate they should intake. Are they low in nutrients and unhealthy?
It’s essential to reduce the intake of carbohydrates with added sugar and also with refined grains.
Intake of Fruit Juice– Intake of fruit juice can increase the blood sugar level in the body. Beverages with added sugars such as juice, energy drinks should be avoided. It can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels. Drinking water instead of fruit juice for a diabetic patient can be more helpful.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, intake of fruit juice during a meal can increase a person’s blood sugar level. Whereas when a person eats fruits, it has both sugar and fiber present in it. The combination of fiber and simple sugar helps slow down sugar intake in the blood of a person eating whole fruits instead of fruit juice.
Dried Fruits– Dried fruits can be a suitable diet for a diabetic patient. But it should not have been dried with added sugar. However, it is essential to make sure that the intake of dried fruits should be in a minimal amount or number.
In a study, it was also found that intake of dried fruit with nuts can be helpful in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Fruits To Be Avoided For People With Diabetes
Here is a quick list of food to be avoided for people with diabetes patient.
- Mango– One mango can contain an approx of 23 grams of sugar. So it’s recommended to avoid intake of mango by individuals with high blood sugar levels.
- Cherries- One cup of cherries can contain an approx of 20 grams of sugar. So it’s not usually advisable for a diabetic patient to eat cherries.
- Kiwi- Kiwi is a fruit with a high amount of sugar in it. One cup of kiwi can have about 16 grams of sugar. So it’s better to have a minimal intake of kiwi to keep the blood sugar level of the diabetic patient in control.
- Lychees- Lychees is a fruit that is used as a sweetener in desserts. It is also used for increasing the sweetness of the cocktail. Lychees contain a whole of 29 grams of sugar which is not advisable for patients with diabetes. So it’s recommended to avoid the intake of lychees for a patient who has diabetes.
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