Diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body uses glucose, or blood sugar. Glucose plays an important role in your health as it is the body's main energy source for cells that comprise of your muscles and tissues. Diabetes, whether you're suffering from Type 1 or Type 2, requires a strict diet to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, according to MayoClinic.com. Diabetics fashion their diets based on the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose levels. If you're suffering from diabetes, you can eat a variety of fruits conducive to your condition.
Apples
Generally, if you are a diabetic, a digestive impairment is present, which includes stomach malfunction and an underproduction of digestive enzymes, according to Earl Mindell and Larry Johns in the book "Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar." Mindell and Johns advocate eating apples as part of a diabetic diet as it contains pectin, which helps to control blood glucose levels. The additional provided fiber that apples have is especially beneficial to Type 2 diabetics, Paul Insel et al. states in the book Nutrition. Fiber delays the uptake of glucose to smooth out blood sugar response.
Grapefruit
According to Stanley Mrisky and Joan Rattner, in the book "Diabetes Survival Guide," diabetics should have goal of 10g of carbohydrates per hour, although it ranges depending on each case. The Glycemic Index Foundation states that a raw grapefruit contains approximately 11g of carbohydrates. Grapefruit increases the alkaline reserve in the blood, which counteracts diabetic acidity levels. Dr. Neal Barnard in his book "Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes" warns that grapefruit can interact with statin drugs, which are usually prescribed to diabetics who also have high cholesterol, and to consult with your physician prior to consuming.
Avocado
Avocado is effective in lowering cholesterol in diabetics who often struggle keeping triglyceride levels in the blood down, according to William Castelli in the book "Cholesterol Cures." Eating this low-carbohydrate and healthy fat containing fruit lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes in women and actively treats those who already have the condition, Myrna and Mark Goldstein say in their book "Healthy Foods: Fact versus Fiction." The high levels of vitamin E contained in an avocado also improves insulin action by inhibiting the binding of glucose to low-density lipoproteins, John Shi et al. say in the book "Functional Foods: Biochemical & Processing Aspects."
References
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes
- "Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar"; Earl Mindell and Larry Johns; 1998
- "Nutrition"; Paul Insel et al.; 2010
- "Diabetes Survival Guide"; Stanley Mirsky and Joan Rattner; 2006
- "Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes"; Neal Barnard, M.D.; 2007
- "Cholesterol Cures"; William Castelli; 2007
