Having diabetes means monitoring everything you eat and drink in order to keep your blood sugar or blood glucose levels in check. High blood sugar levels that are not controlled can lead to many complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage and blindness. Even healthy foods such as whole-wheat carbohydrates, fruits and starchy vegetables may need to be eaten in moderation. Since each case is different, speak with your health-care provider about your dietary needs.
Diabetes
After eating, your body breaks down the food into glucose to be used for energy, and the hormone insulin must be present for the cells to use the glucose. If you have diabetes, your body either does not make insulin or cannot use it properly, which can allow your blood sugar levels to get too high. When it comes to diet, carbohydrates tend to raise blood sugar levels the most, even more than protein, fat or sugar, says MayoClinic.com. To control your blood sugar level, eat a variety of foods and eat meals that are the same size at the same time each day.
Fruit and Blood Sugar Levels
Fruit is part of an overall healthy diet even though it has naturally occurring sugar. However, since fruit contains carbohydrates, you need to monitor your intake, according to the American Diabetes Association. It is the carbohydrates in fruits more than the sugar that you need to be concerned about. Your best bet is to go for fresh fruit. A small piece of whole fruit or about ½ cup of frozen or canned fruit has approximately 15 g of carbohydrates. Dried fruit needs to be eaten in moderation because just 2 tbsp. also has 15 g of carbohydrates.
Testing
A general goal is to get two to four servings of fruit each day by eating a variety of fruit. When deciding how much and what type of fruit you can eat, test yourself often to see how your body responds. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends keeping your blood sugar levels between 70 to 130 before meals and less than 180 one to two hours after a meal. Your physician may recommend different levels based on your personal health history. Many factors, such as stress, exercise and other foods you have eaten, can all influence your blood sugar levels. This means that some days your blood sugar may rise after eating fruit more than it did the day before. Regular testing is your best defense against uncontrolled high blood sugar levels.
Types
Fresh fruits are recommended because they are low in fat and calories. Be careful with canned fruits, trail mixes and fruit juices because they can be high in sugar and calories and a serving may contain a higher amount of carbohydrates than fresh fruit. To keep your blood sugar levels in check, limit consumption of sugary foods such as cookies, pastries, cakes and other treats, because they are digested quickly and can cause spikes in blood sugar levels, says the Cleveland Clinic.
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