Fruits You Should Be Eating And You Shouldn’t If You Are Diabetic

farming boy
4 min readMay 1, 2021

Written by Dr. Shaun Murphy

Did you know that 11% of the American population has diabetes? You have to control what you eat along with getting ample amounts of exercise.

Diabetic or not, for a balanced diet it is important to eat fruit every day. Contrary to popular belief there are some fruits that contain unhealthy amounts of sugar which cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Finding a diabetes-friendly fruit that can help keep your blood sugar in a healthy range is difficult. Is there a way? Here are the best and worst fruits to eat if you have diabetes.

Are peaches and apples good? No more pineapple and banana? Stay tuned to learn everything about the good and bad fruits for diabetes. Let’s start off with the best fruits

Which fruits best for diabetics?

1.Blueberries

  • Blueberries are superfoods for diabetics. These tiny tangy fruits are packed with vitamins, essential minerals, and tons of antioxidants. Not only does it promote overall health, but it also gets rid of free radicals.
  • For long-term diabetics, eating a bowl of purple salad, containing blueberries, purple cabbage, and feta cheese, will help in increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose processing.
  • Blueberries, strawberries, or any other berries in general, are a diabetic’s best friend. With a glycemic index of 53, you can add these miracle berries to parfaits and yogurts as well.

2.Peaches

  • Peaches define the summer season. They are a super healthy addition to your daily diet, low in calories, are a wonderful source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins, and C.
  • It is the perfect fruity treat for diabetics to satisfy sweet tooth cravings and help with weight loss. Peach smoothies or salad, it’s up to you!
  • The antioxidants and vitamin C content helps in fighting off free radicals and make your skin and hair look healthier and softer.

3.Apricots

  • Apricots’ sweet flavor, and impressive nutrient content, make them a worthwhile addition to your diet. They come loaded with beneficial vitamin A, C, potassium, copper, and manganese.
  • Eating dried and whole fresh apricots help in maintaining blood sugar levels. Unlike commercial sweets and chocolate that contain sugar and processed carbohydrates.
  • For a healthy diet having it thinly sliced with peanut butter toast is a wholesome meal for diabetics.
  • Their low glycemic index and nutrient content help regulate diabetes. They also improve digestion while making the body feel full.

4.Apple

  • Having an apple a day may keep the doctor away. For diabetics — keeping a tab on carb intake is key.
  • You may think that apples contain carbs, but the fiber in them helps in neutralizing this effect and maintains blood sugar levels. A medium-sized apple contains around 25 grams of carbs.
  • The fiber content is about 4 grams. That helps slow down the digestion process and very slowly releases the glucose in the bloodstream. It’s good news for diabetics!

5.Oranges

  • When you think about an orange you think, Vitamin C and citrus but it’s more than that! Citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemons, limes, and oranges also contain Vitamin A and iron.
  • The nutrients in them reduce inflammation, the possibility of cell damage and also protects the heart. Folate and potassium help in controlling diabetes.
  • Packed with fiber and a low GI index, they’re also one of those rare fruits that get slowly released into the bloodstream.
  • Remember to get the best benefits out of oranges or any fruits, it’s better to eat it whole rather than drink the juice.

6.Kiwi

  • Kiwi is a great choice for diabetics. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also rich in antioxidants. With the focus being improving immunity these days, it is also a great way of keeping your immune system healthy.
  • This is due to the presence of free radicals that destroy any toxins present in the body.
  • Kiwi keeps heart health at its best! With a GI index of 53, it stands in the lower ranks, making it the perfect addition to a diabetic meal plan.

If you want to read fruits that all diabetics should avoid then click here

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