In the scorching summer, watermelon has begun to make its way to people’s tables. However, for diabetes patients, the sugar content in watermelon is relatively high. Therefore, many diabetes patients have raised this question: Can diabetes patients eat watermelon? To indulge in watermelon, diabetic friends should take note of these 3 points!
Can diabetes patients eat watermelon?
Actually, diabetes patients can eat watermelon, but they should also pay attention to the quantity and not overeat. It’s advisable to consume watermelon with lower sugar content. Before eating watermelon, it is essential to understand one’s blood sugar condition. If the blood sugar level is high, it is best to avoid eating it.
Three points for diabetes patients to eat with peace of mind:
1. Eat when blood sugar is stable
Watermelon contains a rich amount of sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Therefore, eating watermelon can easily lead to a rise in blood sugar levels for diabetes patients, posing a threat to their health. Hence, before consuming watermelon, diabetes patients should first check if their blood sugar is well controlled. If the blood sugar is relatively stable, they can eat watermelon in moderation.
2. Eat between meals
Prior to deciding whether to eat watermelon, check your blood sugar levels. If the fasting blood sugar level reaches 8 mmol/L or postprandial blood sugar index exceeds 11 mmol/L, it’s advisable to avoid watermelon. However, if your blood sugar index is below 6 mmol/L, you can have some watermelon between meals.
3. Reduce the intake of staple foods
Although diabetes patients can eat watermelon, when desiring to consume it, they should reduce the consumption of staple foods by half. For instance, if you want to eat one kilogram of watermelon, you should reduce half a catty of staple foods. Also, when eating watermelon, try to avoid the high-sugar central parts or opt for watermelon with lower sugar content to effectively prevent a significant rise in blood sugar levels.
