Watermelon for type 1 and type 2 diabetes – glycemic index of the berry, beneficial properties and the allowed amount per day

The content of the article

• Can I eat watermelon with diabetes
• Useful properties of berries
• Watermelon Glycemic Index
• Effect on the body
• Proper use
• Watermelon for type 2 diabetes
• Limitations
• Rules for choosing a watermelon for people with diabetes

In diabetes mellitus, the patient is required to carefully monitor the consumption of products, taking into account the sugar contained in them. Improper nutrition can lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being. At the same time, sometimes you want to treat yourself to fruits and berries, among which the watermelon seems to be almost the most seductive. The sweet taste of this berry repels diabetics. Scientists claim that watermelon in diabetes is useful for any type of disease, because the increase in blood sugar caused by it quickly disappears..

Can I eat watermelon with diabetes

It was previously believed that diabetes and watermelon are incompatible concepts. The berry contains a large amount of “fast” carbohydrates, leading to an instant increase in sugar levels. Studies have changed this view, and now scientists know that watermelon is harmless for diabetics, even useful – due to the presence of fructose, which is well tolerated in diabetes. The berry can help normalize glucose levels. It contains fiber, vitamins and minerals that benefit the body..

For a diabetic patient, it is important to consider the glycemic index and be careful about certain rules. You should carefully monitor the body’s reaction to seasonal treats and have an idea of ​​the individual characteristics of the course of the disease. Before you enjoy a juicy pulp, you should consult a specialist. Diabetics are often interested in whether sugar rises after drinking watermelon. The answer is yes. But you should not be afraid of it, because sugar quickly returns to normal.

Useful properties of berries

Doctors allow diabetics only those berries that have a low glycemic index and that contain natural sugar. Watermelons are approved berries. They contain a ton of ingredients that are beneficial for people with diabetes. Watermelon consists of water, plant fibers, protein, fats, pectin and carbohydrates. It includes:

• vitamins C and E, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavin;
• beta carotene;
• lycopene;
• calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and other trace elements.

Watermelon Glycemic Index

Food that can be consumed by diabetics should have a glycemic index (GI) of not more than 50 units. Food with a GI of more than 70 is unacceptable, because it leads to a sharp increase in blood glucose, can cause hyperglycemia and exacerbate the disease. The average level of glycemic load is from 11 to 20 units of carbohydrates, and low is less than 10. The possibility of consuming watermelon depends on its calorie content and glycemic load. It’s important for diabetics not to exceed the amount of 200 g per day.

Watermelon has the following indicators:

• glycemic index – 75 units;
• glycemic load per 100 g of product – 4 g of carbohydrates;
• calories – 38 kcal per 100 g.

The bread index is an indicator of how much sugar will be in the blood after consumption of carbohydrate-containing foods. As a measure, a piece of bread with a thickness of one centimeter and a weight of 20 g was selected. The body will spend 2 bread units of insulin to process such a slice without increasing the sugar level. The daily index has the following meanings:

• for those with physical activity – 25;
• with sedentary work – 20;
• with diabetes – 15;
• with obesity – 10.

Effect on the body

Sugar in watermelon is represented by fructose, which prevails over glucose and sucrose. In the berry it is more than other carbohydrates. It is important to note that fructose is far from harmless for diabetics, it can cause obesity if the norm is increased. At 40 g per day, fructose is very useful and easily absorbed by the body. Such a quantity will require a small dose of insulin, so you should not expect dangerous consequences.

Watermelon is a wonderful diuretic, therefore it is indicated for diseased kidneys, does not cause allergies, is useful for metabolic disorders. The pulp contains citrulline, which, when metabolized, is converted into arginine, which dilates blood vessels. Low calorie content makes it the best product for dieters. The main thing is not to forget about the norm of use and not to increase it. Watermelon helps:

• reduce excitability;
• eliminate spasms in the digestive tract;
• cleanse the intestines;
• reduce cholesterol;
• prevent the formation of gallstones;
• cleanse the body of toxins;
• strengthen blood vessels, heart.

Proper use

To use watermelon is beneficial, doctors advise people with diseases of the endocrine system to adhere to the following rules:

1. You can not eat watermelon with diabetes on an empty stomach, especially with diabetes of the second type. Following the increase in sugar levels, severe hunger will come..
2. Overeating is not allowed.
3. You can not sit on a watermelon diet, because diabetics can not limit themselves to just one thing. High fructose results in weight gain..
4. Before eating a treat, the berry should be cut into water for a couple of hours without cutting, so that it gets rid of harmful substances. It should be used in conjunction with other products..

Watermelon for type 2 diabetes

In diabetes of the second type, watermelon can act as a treat, but you need to carefully measure the amount. Per day, it is permissible to consume no more than 200 g of pulp. Patients with type 2 diabetes are often obese, which forces them to closely monitor the amount of calories consumed. The seasonal berry has a very high glycemic index. After its use, severe hunger sets in, awakening the appetite. To avoid this, you need to eat some bread after a seasonal treat. It is important to remember that large amounts of fructose lead to weight gain..

Limitations

It is important for diabetics to know that seasonal treats are permissible only with a controlled form of the disease, when glucose readings do not go off scale. It is worth considering that there are diseases in which the use of watermelon is unacceptable. It:

• urolithiasis disease;
• acute inflammation of the pancreas or colon;
• diarrhea;
• ulcer;
• gas formation;
• swelling.

Rules for choosing a watermelon for people with diabetes

There are some simple rules that will help you choose the most useful watermelon. People with diabetes should pay particular attention to these tips:

1. Take the pulp of the berry and dip it briefly in water. You can eat a treat if the water does not change color.
2. You can reduce the nitrate content in the berry by placing it in water for a couple of hours.
3. The berry ripening period begins in late July; the season lasts until September. In gourds, the sugar content is low. If they are sold earlier than the specified time, this means that they are not quite ripe, they contain harmful chemicals. Berries sold closer to the end of September can also be harmful..
4. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes should not consume more than 400 g of berry per day.
5. Watermelon increases alkali levels, which can lead to kidney failure, which is especially common and dangerous in diabetes.

Attention! The information presented in the article is for guidance only. Materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.