A diagnosis of diabetes makes meal planning a little trickier than normal, but you can still eat grapes. This round, sweet fruit has a glycemic index of 46, which means eating grapes will not significantly impact your blood glucose level. While you should consult your health care provider to determine the best way to incorporate grapes into a diabetes diet, the fruit contributes vitamins and minerals important for your health. Eating grapes may also help prevent diabetes.
Vitamin K
A 1-cup serving red or green grapes contains 22 mcg of vitamin K. Women and men require 90 to 120 mcg of this vitamin each day to promote effective blood coagulation. A study published in the August 2010 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care" indicates that getting adequate amounts of vitamin K in your diet may decrease your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Research in the August 2008 edition of the same journal correlates dietary vitamin K with a decreased insulin resistance progression in men over the age of 60, which may benefit those with diabetes.
Vitamin C
Eat 1 cup of grapes, and you get 16.3 mg of vitamin C. Include 75 to 90 mg of vitamin C each day for best health. Evidence available in the January 2011 "Diabetes Care" shows a decreased risk of diabetes among study participants who had higher vitamin C intake. Additionally, vitamin C contributes toward wound healing, which is helpful for diabetics -- the California Podiatric Medical Association reports that approximately 15 percent of people with this condition develop foot ulcers, and many of those will need an amputation if the wound does not heal properly.
Potassium
One cup of grapes has 288 mg of potassium; adults require 2,000 mg of this mineral each day. It is especially important to get adequate amounts of potassium if you are African-American -- a study published in the May 2011 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reveals that this racial group has an 18 percent higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes over Caucasians, and it may relate to African-Americans not consuming enough potassium.
Polyphenols
The polyphenols in grapes, such as quercetin, anthocyanins and resveratrol, may provide benefits to those with Type 2 diabetes. Research in the September 2009 edition of "The Journal of Nutrition" notes that these compounds may reduce hyperglycemia and protect cell function; researchers theorize that this could make grapes a smart choice for those with Type 2 diabetes.
References
- Harvard Medical School; Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load For 100+ Foods; July 2002
- Glycemic Index: What Is the Glycemic Index?
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Grapes, Red or Green (European Type, Such as Thompson Seedless), Raw
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin K; June 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Dietary Phylloquinone and Menaquinones Intakes and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes; J.W.J. Beulens, Ph.D., et al.; April 2010
- "Diabetes Care"; Effect of Vitamin K Supplementation on Insulin Resistance in Older Men and Women; M. Yoshida, Ph.D., et al.; August 2008
