BKKhanna in reply to Shassan377 years ago

Is It Okay to Eat Watermelon If I Have Diabetes?

Many people think they should not eat watermelon because it is a sweet fruit. The truth is that you should include watermelon in your diabetes diet because it really helps with proper diabetes management. Even though it contains natural sugar and carbohydrates, it also has fewer calories and a variety of nutrients packed in juicy morsels. It helps make you feel full after a meal mainly because of its high water and fiber content. It contains little sugar, so it doesn't have a huge impact on your blood sugar levels.

The glycemic index measures how blood sugar responds to glucose in foods. In a range of 100, the higher the figure is, the more likely the food may increase the levels of blood sugar. As for watermelon, it has a relatively high glycemic index with 72 for 3/4 cup. But that does not mean watermelon would negatively influence your levels of blood sugar as it is also related to the carbohydrates in a food. According to the equation: Glycemic load = total carbohydrates*glycemic index/100, the glycemic load of watermelon is only 5, which means that watermelon would not affect the blood sugar levels much with its low content of carbohydrates. But still, it is best that you consume this fruit in modest for the best as overeating is never a good thing.

How Watermelon Helps with Diabetes

There is a healthy connection between watermelon and diabetes, and that's mainly because of so many nutrients present in this sweet fruit. Here's a bit more about why it makes sense to make watermelon a part of your diabetes diet.

1. It Contains Several Nutrients

Vitamin A is great for your eyes and helps maintain the health of your cells. It also has vitamin C that protects your body from infections. Since it has vitamin B1 and B6, it helps make you feel energetic throughout the day. This fat-free and cholesterol-free fruit also contains magnesium and potassium that help improve your blood circulation and protect you from cardiovascular diseases. A cup of diced watermelon contains 170mg of potassium, which reduces the effects of sodium on your blood pressure.

2. It Contains Lycopene

Watermelon and diabetes go well together mainly because watermelon is rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant that protects you from circulatory disorders. It neutralizes free radicals that can damage cells in your body. Free radicals can also oxidize cholesterol, making it to cause blockage in your arteries. Lycopene eliminate these free radicals and protect you from coronary heart disease. It also plays a role in protecting diabetics from cancers, like colorectal cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer. The presence of lycopene makes watermelon a great way to prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Diabetes can cause nerve damage that may result in cognitive decline, but lycopene really helps reduce the effects.

3. It Contains Potassium

The high potassium content makes watermelon one of the best fruits for proper kidney functioning. It helps flush toxic compounds out of kidneys, which in turn keeps your blood uric acid levels on the lower side. This prevents kidney damage. If you're diabetic, you should have 5-10 serving of fruits and veggies in your diet. You can opt for three servings of watermelon a day mainly because of its high water content. It's beneficial even if you consume it in the form of a juice.

4. It Contains Amino Acids

Several studies have confirmed that since watermelon contains loads of amino acid called L-citrulline, it plays a big role in preventing high blood pressure. L-citrulline helps build L-arginine, another amino acid responsible for maintaining proper artery function. Regular use of watermelon or watermelon extract will also keep from your hypertension becoming worse with time.

Concerned in reply to BKKhanna7 years ago

The sugar in water melon is fructose. Fructose glycosylates haemoglobin seven times as much as glucose; this contributes to a high HbA1c, and speeds up ageing. More than an ounce per day can be toxic.

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BKKhanna in reply to suramo7 years ago

Yes Diapride M-1 I take ,twice a day.

Concerned in reply to khongsamita7 years ago

My sympathies khongsamita ; all carbohydrate is turned to glucose in the body. In telling you to eat foods that turn to glucose your dietitian is condemning you to need medication for the rest of your life.

suramoStar in reply to khongsamita7 years ago

khongsamita

Please know more facts about your diabetes. Endos and dietitians give traditional advice. They may say you should take some sugar. But they are wrong. All the high gi/ gl foods should be avoided. Rice is one of them. Even brown rice is not advisable but before that you should know the status of your D.

Hidden in reply to cure7 years ago

With metformin 1000 MG , how can you say you are medfree .

cureAdministrator in reply to Hidden7 years ago

very true...

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Hidden in reply to cure7 years ago

cure , THANK you very much for your honest confession .

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Hidden in reply to cure7 years ago

Being an elder to you I bless you , not only praying .