Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes - Choose Fruits That Suit You!

People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes often have questions about eating fruit ... they often want to know if fruit juice will raise their blood sugar levels faster than eating a piece of fruit. Another question relates to the glycemic index (GI) of fruit.

Actually the effect of fruit on your blood sugars depends on several factors:

the form of the fruit ... is it juice?
do you eat fruit as part of your meal, at the end of your meal, or separately as a snack
the GI of the fruit

Fruit usually does not raise your blood sugar levels more quickly than other carbohydrates but some fruits raise your levels faster when eaten alone.

These fruits have a low GI ranking:

apples
grapefruit
prunes
peaches

but these:

pineapple
watermelon
dates and raisins

have a high GI. You need to work out how fruit in general, and specifically which fruits affect your blood sugar levels. For example, does eating fruit at breakfast make it difficult for you to keep your levels stable throughout the day? Is there a particular fruit that causes your blood sugars to rise drastically? Alternatively, does eating a piece of fruit in the afternoon give you enough of a carbohydrate boost to get you through to your evening meal?

Fruit is a great energy source containing vitamins, minerals and fiber and really should not be left out of your food plan ... fruit should be eaten each day. The best idea is to work out which fruit is best for you to eat and whether to eat it with your meals or as a snack. Your blood sugar level goals will help you with that decision.

Check your blood sugar level two hours after eating the piece of fruit. It is also important to make sure of the quantity ... you may think you are having one serving whereas you are having two or three, e.g.

1 serving for a small apple should be 4 oz (113 g)
1 serving of grapefruit equals half, not the whole fruit
1 serving for a medium peach should be 6 oz (170 g)

If you drink fruit juice be careful of the amount, it's easy to drink more than you realise. Actually it is a good idea to drink as little fruit juice as possible, it offers good nutrition but does not contain the fiber of fresh fruit.

Why not take one or two pieces of fruit from home each day ... you could eat them with lunch, as a snack in the afternoon, or on your way home from work to take the edge off your hunger.

To download a copy of my free E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions ... it's based on questions diabetics have asked me over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes.

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Fruits For Diabetes - What Are Recommended For Diabetics?

Fruits play a pivotal role in the discussion whether diabetics eat fruits or not. Though it is argued on both extremes, it is rather a myth that the diabetics should not consume fruits. Many diabetics fall a prey to such exaggeration and their condition is deteriorated to the worst. Indeed, 'Fruits for Diabetes' is a good concept as many fruits have nutritional values with Vitamins and Minerals that are required to build up a healthy body. So, a diabetic should have a meal plan including some fruits.

Why should a diabetic eat fruits?

I choose to explain here what type of fruits a diabetic should eat rather than produce you a list of fruits to go for searching. Be sure, there are no such fruits that the diabetics should keep off in total. There are some light and non-greasy fruits that can work well for diabetics in controlling blood glucose. But a diabetic victim should abstain from consuming foods including fruits that are rich in fats and cholesterol. There are fruits rich in fiber needed to control blood sugar in the bloodstream. The dietary fiber promotes easy digestion and conversion of glucose into energy.

Fruits to eat and fruits to avoid:

A diabetic is certainly forbidden from eating fruits that are high in carbohydrates and sugar. Sugary fruits may be consumed in very small servings instead of avoiding completely. Fruit juices and concentrates which do not contain dietary fiber are to be substituted with whole fruits. Fresh fruits are preferred than those stored in freezers. If the fruits are unpeeled and half-ripened, the beneficial effects of eating such fruits are doubled for controlling blood sugar levels. The sweeteners and syrups added with juices do elevate the blood sugar steeply. Here is a small list of fruits of three categories:

Eat these fruits: Citrus fruits such as oranges, sweet lime, red grapes, or olives.

Avoid these fruits: Mango, banana, chikoo, guava, and custard apple.

Must eat these fruits: Grape fruits, apple, pomegranate, and jambul

If you are decided to eat fruits, they can be had from the market. Be sure that the fruits will work well if they are fresh. However, fruits for diabetes cannot be the case to make it complete for diabetes control. A diabetic needs to eat green vegetables also in plenty.

Controlling blood sugar is really an art. If you want to be an expert and safe, you should know the description of diabetes foods to eat AND diabetes foods to avoid.

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