Is Watermelon Good Or Bad For Diabetics?

Is Watermelon Good or Bad For Diabetics?

Diabetes, as we know, is a very complicated condition leading to a host of complications in patients. Some of the complications relate to the heart, the nervous system, kidneys, and several other parts of the body. The best way to manage the same is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet. It is for this reason that a diabetes patient is always conscious of what he or she is consuming and in what quantity.
In this article, we shall explore the relationship between diabetes and Watermelon. And try to understand that can a diabetic have watermelon or not in regular diet?
Facts Related to Watermelon
To begin with, we need to understand some of the facts that are related to this fruit.
The fruit is rich in a lot of vitamins and minerals, namely, Vitamin A, B-6, C. iron, calcium, and other minerals.
The Glycemic Index of Watermelon is somewhere around 72 per serving of 100 grams.
The fruit is considered to be high on its fiber content. Hence it is recommended as a very healthy snack.
90% of the content is water in Watermelons.
Lycopene is the main ingredient in the fruit from which it derives its color. The pigment is a powerful antioxidant with a number of health benefits.
Health Benefits of Watermelon for Diabetes Patients
How is watermelon good for diabetics? Let us look into some of the health benefits of the fruit when it comes to the diabetes patients:
– One of the effects in diabetes is the feeling of fatigue and extreme tiredness in patients suffering from the condition. This is due to the increase in the levels of blood glucose which hinders the smooth circulation Continue reading

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One-third of Mississippi population will have diabetes by 2030, doctor warns

A third of the population of Mississippi will have diabetes by 2030 and need costly care to stay alive, which will have a devastating impact both on them and the state's economy, according to a leading physician.
Dr Richard deShazo at the University of Mississippi medical centre in Jackson, is one of a group of physicians and academics who are trying to warn families about the dangers and consequences of obesity and teach them how to prevent their children gaining weight and damaging their health. Mississippi has long been the state with the highest obesity rate in the United States, dropping only slightly in the latest government survey to second place to Louisiana where 34.7% of the population is now obese, compared with 34.6% in Mississippi. Thirteen states, mostly in the south, have obesity rates of more than 30%.
The situation in Mississippi is dire, said deShazo. “We're going to have about a third of our population with diabetes by 2030. If you look at the economics of that, the downstream disability, it's very difficult to calculate the long-term effects but it's very hard to tell how the state can support itself,” said deShazo. The 2012 “F as in Fat” report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found Mississippi had the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the US, at 12.3%, based on 2010 figures. At the current rate of increase, said deShazo, that would be a third of the population by 2030. The 10 states with the highest diabetes rates are all in the south.
Diabetes is one of the most problematic consequences of obesity, alon Continue reading

11 Best Low-Sugar Fruits

Watching your sugar intake is a good idea, but taming your sweet tooth can be an incredibly difficult feat. Perhaps you’ve already cut out processed sugars, but didn’t realize how much sugar is contained in fruit. Or maybe you live with diabetes and want to know which fruits will have the least impact on your blood sugar.
While fruit also contains lots of other healthy nutrients, some varieties are higher in sugar than others. Learn which fruits are lowest in sugar content so you can satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking the sugar bank.
1. Lemons (and limes)
High in vitamin C, lemons and their lime green counterparts are fairly sour fruits. They don’t contain much sugar (only a gram or two per lemon or lime) and are the perfect addition to a glass of water to help curb your appetite.
2. Raspberries
With only five grams — a bit more than a teaspoon — of sugar per cup, and lots of fiber to help fill you up, raspberries are one of several amazing berries to make the list.
3. Strawberries
Strawberries are surprisingly low in sugar considering they taste so sweet and delicious. One cup of raw strawberries has about seven grams of sugar, along with over 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
4. Blackberries
Blackberries also only have seven grams of sugar per cup. You don’t have to feel guilty snacking on these dark colored berries. As a bonus, they’re also high in antioxidants as well as fiber.
5. Kiwis
These odd fuzzy green-fleshed fruits are technically considered a berry too. Kiwis (or kiwifruits) are rich in vitamin C and low in sugar — Continue reading

Foods Not to Eat With Type 2 Diabetes

For many, diabetes cannot be controlled through diet alone, but making wise food choices is beneficial for all people with diabetes. There are no foods that are absolutely prohibited when you have diabetes, but certain food types make controlling blood sugar extremely difficult and also contribute to poor overall health. If you have diabetes, avoiding sugary foods and foods with unhealthy fats, for instance, can enhance your wellness and minimize the necessity of medical intervention to manage your diabetes.
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Foods and Drinks High in Sugar
Natural sugars are present in many healthy whole foods. You can eat sugar in moderation, even if you have diabetes. But sugar is a carbohydrate, and like all carbohydrates, it will affect blood glucose levels. When you do consume a food high in sugar, let it take the place of another carbohydrate you would have otherwise consumed. For example, if you plan to having a cookie after your meal, don't eat the baked potato that came with the meal. In general, it's advisable to avoid regular consumption of sugar-rich foods like cake, cookies and candies. Also, be aware of the sugar found in beverages, including sodas, fruit drinks and highly sweetened coffee drinks, and in dried fruits and packaged snacks. Because everyone's response to sugar differs, there is no set amount considered "moderation." To maintain moderation, generally, save sugary treats for special occasions, and select natural sources of sweetness, like fruit, to tame cravings.
Foods High in Unhealthy Fat
When trying to manage your diabetes, avoid foods high in sa Continue reading

10 Low-Glycemic Fruits for Diabetes

We humans come by our sweet tooth naturally — Our bodies need carbohydrates because they provide energy to cells. But for the body to be able to use it for energy, we need insulin.
When our bodies don’t produce any insulin or are unable to use it (type 1 diabetes) or make enough of it properly (type 2 diabetes), we’re at risk for high blood sugar levels. High levels can lead to chronic complications such as nerve, eye, or kidney damage.
The glycemic index (GI) tells you how quickly foods containing carbohydrates affect your blood sugar level when eaten by themselves. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), GI scores are rated as:
Low: 55 or below
Moderate: 56 to 69
High: 70 and above
The lower the GI score, the more slowly the rise in blood sugar, which can help the body better manage post-meal changes.
Most whole fruits have a low to moderate GI. Many fruits are also packed with vitamins A and C, as well as fiber.
A more useful estimation of the food-blood sugar effect is the glycemic load (GL), which has more narrow categories of low, medium and high foods. This calculation takes into account the GI, plus the grams of carbohydrates per serving of the food.
Though each person living with diabetes responds to or tolerates carbohydrate choices and amounts differently, GL better estimates the possible real-life impact when someone eats a particular food.
To calculate the GL yourself, use this equation: GL equals the GI, multiplied by the grams of carbohydrates, divided by 100.
Low: 0 to 10
Moderate: 11 to 19
High: 20 and above
GI score: 20
GL score: 6
Cher Continue reading