These low and medium glycemic options can be enjoyed with breakfast or as a snack.
There’s nothing (naturally) sweeter than biting into a juicy peach or sprinkling strawberries on your morning oatmeal. But for people with diabetes, there can be some confusion over how much of that fruity sweetness they can enjoy while keeping their blood sugar in check. “Many of my clients with diabetes are worried because they’re not sure where fruit fits into the equation,” says dietitian Farah Z. Khan, RD, who is also a health and wellness coach. But the natural fructose and glucose found is very different from added sugars found in sweets like ice cream, cookies, and soft drinks, Khan adds. “Fruit provides important vitamins and minerals, and it also has fiber in it, which delays how quickly the food is going to be digested, so the glucose will enter your bloodstream more slowly.”
Khan recommends you stick to whole or frozen fruits, since dried fruits and canned fruits may contain added sugar (though if you only have access to canned fruits, you can simply rinse off the syrup, she says). If you like to take your fruit in liquid form, stick with no-sugar-added 100% juice, and consider diluting it with water or seltzer, Khan adds. The American Diabetes Association recommends limiting high-carbohydrate foods (which includes fruit) to one quarter of your plate, or about 2 to 3 servings of fruit per day. Choose whichever fruit you love, says Khan, who suggests you pair it with other proteins or healthy fats, as an extra way to keep your blood sugar from spiking. Keep in mind that one serving of fruit equals about 15 g carbohydrates.
Here, 10 fruits to enjoy if you have diabates — and how much to eat for one healthy serving.
