Fruits are natural desserts- and contrary to the popular belief they are good for Diabetics – says Dr Rajesh Kesari, Consultant Diabetologist in Delhi, Indirapuram and Noida. Fruits contain very important Vitamins, Minerals and Fibres and Antioxidants which are very essential for Diabetics.

But like everywhere else Diabetics have to be cautious in their choice of fruits, not all fruits may be harmless and some may even lead to increased levels of Blood Sugars which we know is harmful for Diabetics. Some fruits like Banana approx , Cheekoo ( Sapota), Grapes, Mangoes have high calory content and may lead to sudden shooting up of Blood Glucose levels- so they should best be avoided. One of the most common mistakes that people do when they are recommended to have plenty of fruits is they start taking Bananas- it's filling as it provides lots of calories and thus the energy which goes with them. Diabetes specialist in Delhi Indirapuram Noida recommend all Diabetics to avoid these fruits as they may increase Blood Sugar levels, Weight, Cholesterol and Blood Pressure which are all harmful  in Diabetes.

 Diabetes is a chronic condition, there is no cure for Diabetes, it can be only managed. Hence there is the need to be ever vigilant and adapt our lifestyle in such ways as to help control all aspects of Diabetes like Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol levels. This is termed as Lifestyle management- which forms a cornerstone of Diabetes treatment. Even the best Diabetes doctor in Delhi, Noida,  Indirapuram suggest Lifestyle management which includes Diet control and increased physical activity as the most important aspect of Diabetes treatment.

 When a diabetes doctor recommends to his patients that you should frequently take fruits the obvious question which is asked by all Diabetics and their relatives is- How come, Fruits are sweet! wouldn't they raise my Blood Sugar levels?

 The Answer is a big NO – fruits even if sweet would not raise your blood sugar levels, this is the reason even WHO- world Health Organization recommends 3-4 servings of fruits and green vegetables per day for Diabetics. The main carbohydrate which provides sweetness in most of the fruits is Fructose, not Glucose. Fructose is approx 1.7 times sweeter than glucose, thus even lesser amount of Sugar would provide more sweetness and contribute lesser calories, thereby not leading to high Blood Glucose levels.

 Diabetologist in Delhi Doctor Rajesh Kesari further adds that fresh fruits also contain lots of fibres, these fibres further delay the absorption of fructose present in the fruits, not only that, fruit fibres would also decrease the absorption of any other food taken before or together with meals, thus it would decrease the glycemic Index of the whole meal. As a result Glucose would be slowly released into the bloodstream from intestines - in Type 2 Diabetes patients the Insulin present in the Body may be sufficient in controlling Blood Glucose levels and they may not rise at all.

 Fruits also give a sense of fullness, yet contribute significantly lower amount of calories, hence they can also be used in place of snacks. Some fruits have high water content like oranges, Sweet limes and watermelons- these are also good for Diabetics, More over fruits contain lots of Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants, these are also helpful in Diabetes as they reduce the Oxidative stress and Free Radicals, Boost the immune system, and contribute to a general well being.

 Fruits are essential part of our diet and should be consumed regularly by all including persons suffering from Diabetes. Regular intake of fruits in moderate quantities may be helpful in controlling Diabetes.