Fruit and Diabetes

Diabetics often question what foods they should or should not eat, such as fruit. A few common questions about fruit are:

• Will fruit juice increase blood glucose levels more quickly than a piece of fruit?
• Should you avoid fruit in the morning because your blood glucose might be higher than at other times in the day?
• Is it better to eat fruit with meals rather than snacks?
• Are fruits the only food that helps diabetes?

All carbohydrates, whether rice, potatoes or fruit juice, raise blood glucose about the same. In general, an equal amount of carbohydrate such as 1/2 cup grapefruit juice or 4 slices of Melba toast, should raise blood glucose at about the same speed and about the same amount.

There are a few factors that can change how much or how fast your glucose levels change after eating meals or snacks.

Some factors are whether you eat a piece of fruit after a high-fat meal or sip fruit juice on an empty stomach, what your blood glucose is when you eat the fruit, whether the fruit is cooked or raw, how much diabetes medication you have in your body.

Ways to Incorporate Fruit into your Diet

People with diabetes can eat any kind of fruit, regardless of the sugar content. Everyone is encouraged to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Spreading the fruit you eat through the day will avoid a sudden rise in blood glucose levels. Eating more fruit and vegetables also helps to improve the overall balance of the diet.

Easy ways to eat more fruit:

• Put slices of banana or peaches on cold cereal
• Add dry fruit (such as raisins, apricots, or apples) when cooking hot cereal
• Keep a plastic container full of cut up fruit
• Keep dried fruit, raisins, figs, apricots, peaches, pears, etc., around. Use it for a snack, try it as fuel for long hikes or bike rides, or stash in your desk or locker.
• Have canned or jarred fruit in the pantry -- applesauce, peaches, pears and pineapple for starters.
• Toss fruit into entrees -- pineapple in stir-fry or on make-your-own-pizza; fresh or dried cranberries or peaches in chicken, or apricots or apples in pork dishes.
• Combine fruit with vegetables -- crushed pineapple in coleslaw, raisins in carrot salad, make a Waldorf salad with apples, raisins, walnut and celery.
• Serve fruit with the main course -- applesauce with pork chops or roast, pineapple with ham, low-sugar cranberry sauce with chicken.
• Grill fruit on skewers and serve as dessert with a few ginger snaps or vanilla wafers or serve as part of the main course.

The portions of fruit and vegetables are not always easy to figure out. Here is one way to measure portions:

One Portion of Fruit/Vegetables =

• one medium- sized fresh fruit (apple, pear, banana, etc)
• two small fruits (apricots, plums, kiwi fruit, etc)
• a cupful of berries or very small fruit (grapes, raspberries, etc)
• a bowlful of salad
• a large slice of a large fruit (melon, pineapple, etc)
• three serving spoons of tinned or stewed fruit
• half a serving spoon of dried fruit
• a small glass of unsweetened fruit juice
• three serving spoons of a small vegetable (sweetcorn, peas, etc)
• two serving spoons of green or root vegetables or pulses (beans, carrots, etc)

Fruits are low on fats and highly rich in nutrients and vitamins and have positive effect on the abnormal rise in the blood glucose levels. Of all the fruits, apple is the one with all the valuable nutrients.

Apple is rich in pectine, which is found in its pulp. This pectine is the source of galacturonic acid, which is needed for cleaning the harmful, toxic substances from your body. This acid also works in the direction of decreasing your body's need of insulin. Besides being rich in pectin, apples are also rich in Vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 prevents the damage of the brain cells that can occur due to diabetic acidosis. It also prevents further complications such as neurosis.

Apart from apple, grapefruit has several appetizing properties that helps you fight diabetes. Its refreshing nature helps you to bring down your blood glucose levels within a time span of just three days. But just a diet of grapefruit is not enough. With it you will be required to take more of vegetables and fruits rather than diet rich in fats.

Natural Supplements For Type 2 Diabetes - Glucose M2

When used in conjunction with regular exercise and sound diet, Glucose M2 can provide you with an effective means to manage glucose in your body. Research has shown that the ingredients contained in this unique formula may be able to enhance carbohydrate metabolism and control fluctuating blood glucose (sugar) levels.

A few ingredients in Glucose M2 are:

• Magnesium - Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism. It may influence the release and activity of insulin, the hormone that helps control blood glucose levels. A lack of magnesium can affect insulin resistance.
• Chromium - Chromium may be helpful for moving glucose and other nutrients into the cells of the body more efficiently. Additionally, low chromium levels are linked to other areas of health. Low Chromium levels may be responsible for glucose tolerance and glucose levels in the blood and urine.
• Zinc - Low zinc levels reduce the body's abilities to synthesize and secrete insulin, and glucose.
• Bitter Melon Ext. - The blood sugar leveling action of the fresh juice or extract of the unripe fruit has been shown in both experimental and clinical studies. Bitter melon's many constituents contain several compounds with properties shown to promote healthy blood sugar levels.
• Gymnemna Sylvestris Ext. - Gymnemna is thought to promote insulin secretion, and several studies report that it does control blood sugar. Gymnemna assists the pancreas in the production of insulin. It may also decrease one's cravings for sweets.

For a complete list of ingredients Click Here.

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