Living with diabetes, whether type 1, type 2 or gestational, means having to watch carbohydrate intake. After your diagnosis, speak with a physician or registered dietitian to create a food plan based on your personal health. The diet should be well balanced and include fruits, but fruits do need to be counted as part of your total carbohydrate intake.
Identification
All foods consumed are eventually broken down into glucose or blood sugar to provide the body with the fuel it needs. After a meal, blood glucose levels rise and the pancreas releases the hormone insulin. Insulin helps deliver the glucose to the cells to be used right away or stored for use later on. Having diabetes means that the body does not make enough insulin or is unable to use insulin properly, which allows glucose levels to become too high. An important part of managing diabetes is to eat in a way that keeps blood glucose levels in check.
Benefits
Since foods containing carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels the most, diabetics need to count the number of grams of carbohydrates eaten each day and stay within the limit recommended by a medical provider. In addition, focus on the right kind of carbs. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, rice and pasta; potatoes; and baked good and snacks are all digested by the body very quickly, which can cause blood glucose levels to spike. Eating these foods can make it harder to control your diabetes. In contrast, many whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits and vegetables contain carbs that are digested more slowly, which keeps blood sugar levels steadier.
Considerations
Fruit is part of a healthy diet for diabetics because it provides the body with vitamins, minerals and fiber. However, since fruits do contain carbohydrates, you need to count them toward your daily allowance. To keep blood sugar levels in check, the American Diabetic Association suggests choosing fruits that are fresh, frozen or canned without added sugars. A serving of 1/2 to 1 cup contains approximately 15 grams of carbohydrate. Dried fruits are much higher, as just 2 tablespoons of dried fruit can contain 15 grams of carbohydrate. If buying packaged, canned or frozen fruits, make sure to read the nutrition label to see how many grams are in a serving. Since a general recommendation is to aim for between 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate at each meal, be sure to measure out a serving of fruit and count the grams. You can also replace other carbs such as starches with fruit to stay within your limit.
Solution
Every patient with diabetes is unique and responds to food differently. For one person, a piece of fruit may not affect blood sugar levels much, while for another, just a small piece can shoot levels too high. In addition stress, exercise and other foods eaten can all influence blood sugar levels as well. Eating a piece of fruit on Monday may not be problematic, while on Tuesday the same amount of fruit makes blood glucose levels rise. Given this, testing is essential. The only way to know how much fruit is safe each day is to test blood sugar levels constantly.
