While an apple a day is supposed to be the key to good health, too much apple juice may be a contributing factor to diabetes and its associated complications. While apples and other whole fruits are full of fiber that helps keep the sugar in the fruit from being absorbed into the blood stream too quickly, the sugar in apple juice and other fruit juices is much more concentrated and can cause blood glucose levels to rise too quickly. In fact, ABC News reports that drinking apple juice or other fruit juices is related to the development of diabetes in women.
Diabetes and Sugar
Diabetes is a condition with two variations, both of them reactive to sugars in the diet. Type 1 diabetics produce no insulin, the hormone that governs the absorption of sugar by cells to fuel the body, and require daily insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes is a condition usually caused by overweight and genetic predisposition. The problem isn’t that the body produces no insulin; the problem is that the cells are resistant to the insulin the body does produce. In either case, blood sugars can rise too high. Over time, high blood sugar can damage kidneys, cause eye problems and even lead to heart disease and amputations.
Portion Control
The problem with apple juice isn’t the juice itself. Juice is fine in moderation. But American portions have gotten bigger over the years and too much juice can wreak havoc on blood sugars. A standard serving of juice is 4 ounces, or half a cup. Most small glasses used in homes hold a full cup. And many people use large glasses that contain 12 ounces or more.
Diabetics and Juice
Diabetics need to be very careful about portion control and should stick to the 4-ounce serving. A 4-ounce serving of apple juice contains roughly 15 grams of carbohydrates, the culprit in high blood glucose. If you add the 15 grams of carbohydrates in apple juice to the 30 or more in a typical bowl of breakfast cereal, the diabetic has most likely gone over his carbohydrate limit for the meal. For a type 1 diabetic or an insulin dependent type 2, this can mean more insulin is required. For non-insulin users, this carbohydrate load may drive blood sugar up.
Caveats
There is still a place for apple juice in the diabetic diet, and as long as portion control is exercised, the juice can count as a fruit serving. But 4 ounces is only half of a normal small glass. The other place apple juice can be of benefit is when a diabetic suffers a low blood sugar. When this happens, a quick-acting source of sugar is required to prevent further complications from the low blood sugar. Generally, 15 grams of carbs are recommended, and a half-cup of juice is just what you need. It provides the carbohydrates needed and will enter the system quickly. The most important thing for all diabetics is portion and carbohydrate control and regular monitoring of blood glucose.
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