Diabetics who want to enjoy a sweet treat might need to skip certain fruits. The glycemic index, or GI, of a food indicates how quickly it raises blood sugar levels. The glycemic load (GL) takes into account the impact of the amount of food consumed in addition to its GI.
A few high-GI fruits include watermelon (94), cantaloupe (83) and honeydew melon (77). But there are also plenty of low-GI fruits that diabetics can enjoy in moderation, such as strawberries (20), blueberries (28) and raspberries (35).
What foods bring up blood sugar quickly?
Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars during digestion, which causes an increase in blood glucose levels. These simple sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream at different rates depending on their chemical structure and fiber content. Carbohydrates with higher glycemic indexes raise blood sugar more quickly than those with lower ones — but they also tend to be less filling, so you may find yourself eating more total calories than if you ate lower-glycemic foods.
Here are some common sources of carbohydrates that can raise blood sugar levels:
A diabetes diet is designed to help you control your blood sugar levels and avoid complications. It’s important to choose the right foods for your meal plan, as some foods raise blood sugar more rapidly than others.
When it comes to consuming fruit, there are a few things you need to consider. First, many fruits contain natural sugars that can cause an increase in your blood glucose levels. The best way to avoid this is by eating fruit in moderation or by eating the least sugary ones only when you need a quick boost of energy.
Some fruits that diabetics should try to avoid include:
Apples – Apples raise blood sugar quickly because they are high in fructose, which can be problematic for people with diabetes. It’s better if you eat apples as part of a mixed meal or as part of another fruit salad rather than eating them alone as a snack.
Oranges – Oranges contain high amounts of both fructose and glucose (a type of simple carbohydrate), so they can cause an increase in blood glucose levels if eaten alone or in excess. If you want an orange, cut it up into slices and add it to a smoothie instead of eating it whole on its own.
Diabetics have to be careful about the foods they eat. The wrong foods can cause your blood sugar level to rise quickly, leading to problems like hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Fruits are good for you but some of them can raise your blood sugar unless you monitor what you eat carefully.
If you have diabetes, there are some fruits that you should avoid or limit. This includes grapes, raisins, prunes, dates and dried fruit. These fruits contain high levels of natural sugars called “fructose”. Fruits with a lot of fructose can cause a sudden rise in your blood sugar level after eating them.
Diabetics need to be careful about the types of food they eat. Some foods can raise blood sugar extremely quickly, while others take longer to digest. The best fruits for diabetics are those that don’t cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
The following fruits should be avoided by diabetics:
Apples
Oranges
Bananas
Grapes (including raisins)
Pears
Mangoes
Watermelon
Fruits are a great way to get vitamins and minerals, but it’s important to know which fruits contain high amounts of sugar.
If you have diabetes, do not eat these fruits:
Bananas. A medium-sized banana contains about 20 grams of sugar. Bananas are also high in starches and carbohydrates that can raise blood sugar quickly.
Grapes. Grapes are known for their sweet taste, but they’re also high in fructose. Fructose is a simple sugar found in fruit and some vegetables that can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol levels and inflammation in the body.
Pears. Pears are another fruit with a sweet taste that can increase your blood sugar levels quickly — especially if they’re canned or cooked in syrup or juice instead of fresh.
Strawberries. Strawberries contain more than 10 grams of sugar per cup! If you love strawberries, try freezing them so you can enjoy them without worrying about their effects on your blood sugar levels.
Diabetics need to eat a healthy diet that contains an adequate amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, which helps to maintain healthy body functions.
However, some fruits contain a high amount of sugar and can increase blood glucose levels in diabetics.
Avoid eating the following fruits if you are diabetic:
Cherries: Cherries are a good source of antioxidants such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid and quercetin; all these nutrients help reduce inflammation in the body. [1] However, cherries also contain a lot of fructose which can increase blood glucose levels rapidly. It is best to eat cherries in moderation as they are not suitable for diabetics who need to keep their blood sugars under control.
Oranges: Oranges contain more than 60% fructose content which raises blood sugar quickly, making them unsuitable for diabetics with diabetes mellitus type 2 or prediabetes.[2] It is better to eat oranges when they are ripe because this reduces the amount of sugar present in them.
Diabetics should avoid eating sugary foods, which include soft drinks, candy and baked goods. These foods raise blood sugar quickly, causing it to spike and then drop. This can leave a person feeling hungry and tired.
Fruits are good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals that help lower blood sugar levels. They also contain fructose, which is absorbed slowly by the body. Diabetics should eat fruits with a low glycemic index (GI) such as apples, pears and grapes.
Vegetables also contain fiber and are low in calories, making them good choices for diabetics. However, some vegetables raise blood sugar quickly because they contain more starch than other types of carbs (carbohydrates). Examples of these foods include potatoes, corn and carrots.
If you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes, you can’t go wrong with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Which Fruits Should Diabetics Avoid?
Some fruits are high in sugar and should be eaten in moderation by people with diabetes. These include:
Bananas
Grapes
Oranges (and other citrus fruits)
The best fruits for diabetics are those that are low in sugar and high in fiber. This will help to control blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively. Insulin helps convert sugar and other food into energy. When there is too much sugar in the blood, it can cause serious health problems such as eye damage and kidney failure.
The most common type of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when certain cells in the body resist insulin from working properly. This condition affects more than 90 percent of people with diabetes; the rest have Type 1 diabetes, which is less common but more serious because it affects the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin.
Diabetes is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world. The disease affects more than 400 million people globally, including more than 30 million Americans.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when your body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, helps glucose (sugar) enter your cells to be used as energy. Without insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood and causes health problems.
The two types of diabetes are:
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce any insulin because it has been destroyed by the immune system; this type makes up about 5 percent of all diabetes cases in children
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when your body becomes resistant to its effects; this type makes up about 95 percent of all diabetes cases.