In summer, you will see watermelon being sold almost everywhere. It is not only sweet in taste, but also cools the body, but due to its sweetness, diabetic patients have to think before eating it. In this article we will know whether it is right for diabetic patients to eat watermelon or not, let's know in detail-
Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load
When it comes to diabetes, the most important thing is to understand how quickly any diet increases blood sugar in our body. This is called the Glycemic Index (GI). The GI of watermelon is about 72, which falls in the high category. But its glycemic load (GL) is low, about 5 per 100 grams, which falls in the low category.
This means that even though watermelon can increase sugar quickly, if it is eaten in small quantities, its total effect is not much.
Can diabetic patients eat watermelon?
Yes, you can eat watermelon in diabetes, but consume it in limited quantity. You can eat 100–150 grams (about 1 cup) of chopped watermelon at a time throughout the day. It would be better to eat watermelon with protein or fiber-rich food, so that blood sugar does not increase rapidly. Watermelon juice does not contain fiber at all. It has a high GI. Therefore, it is better to eat fresh fruit. Include watermelon in your diet keeping in mind the carbohydrate intake throughout the day.
Who should be cautious?
If someone's blood sugar is not under control, or HbA1c is very high, then it is important to consult a doctor. Along with this, insulin-dependent patients should take special care of the quantity and time.
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