Can you eat fruit if you have diabetes? Why you shouldn’t be afraid of it

Mimetic and pseudoscientific messages are almost always constructed in the same way: “X forbidden fruits unless you want to develop insulin resistance.” In the background are stories that falsely link the development of diabetes to eating certain foods that are mostly healthy, such as fruit.

• Important thing: Unless there are special medical indications, everyone With or without diabetes, we should consume minimally processed fruits and vegetables.whole grains, legumes, nuts and EVOO.
• Context: Diabetes involves chronically high blood sugar, usually due to the inability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin to process it. Spain is second country in Europe with the most cases. It affects 1 in 7 adults.

The choice of a specific diet (for example, a fruit-free ketogenic diet versus a Mediterranean diet or a similar diet) “should be done under the supervision of a qualified nutritionist,” says Dr. Elsa Fernandez Rubio, an endocrinologist at the Cruces University Hospital (Bilbao). , from the EDMS.

But is there any basis to these reports linking fruit, insulin resistance and diabetes? The doctor answers:

Are there any fruits that are prohibited for diabetics?

No. “In general, the recommendations do not differ from those of the general population: 3 to 5 pieces of fruits and vegetables per day. People with diabetes do better in the context of main meals.”

Will avoiding fruit help prevent diabetes?

Against. The Mediterranean diet with its fruits helps prevent diabetes. “Yes, you should avoid drinking juices, even if they are natural; “They have a much greater impact on glucose levels.” Fruits (unprocessed) do not have this problem due to their content in fiber“

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But… my sugar levels spike after eating fruit.

Let’s define the word “shoot”. “Hyperglycemia curves (offered by glucometers) should be interpret with caution– says the doctor. “People with diabetes have higher peaks 180 mg/dl They are consistently associated with longer-term complications. In people without diabetes, these numbers are usually not achieved.” However, home glucometers have an “inaccuracy”.

Don’t I need to check my glucose levels regularly?

No unless you are a person with diabetes. “In people without diabetes, we have no scientific evidence that continuous glucose monitoring using home devices is associated with better health outcomes.”