There is confusion about fruit for diabetics, especially among the medical professionals.
Most sugars and carbohydrates digest through the small intestines and raise blood sugar within
15 -30 minutes. Fruit contains fructose, also a form of sugar. Fructose is metabolized through the liver. In doing an experiment, I found that it takes two hours for my blood sugar to rise to it's peak before starting to decline. I did this experiment by eating 15 grams of fructose 1 banana and one peach, first thing in the morning (fasting). I sat by the computer so as to not involve exercise. I tested my blood every half hour. It took two hours for my blood sugar to reach it's highest point and start to decline from fructose in the fruit. Since blood sugar is going up so slowly, we have the opportunity to work some of it off by what ever activity we are engaging in before it gets as high as it is going to go. On the other hand sugar from starch (flour) or sugar peaks in 15-30 minutes. Not much chance to work that off. The sugar content of fruit is not equal to sugar or flour for this reason. People get bent out of shape over fructose in fruit because of the bad press for high fructose corn syrup. It is bad! The concentration of fructose in high fructose corn syrup is much higher than in fruit. The same is true of Agave. High fructose corn syrup and agave can cause a fatty liver. Fatty liver is common in diabetics. Not a good thing. Fructose in fruit will not cause fatty liver. When you see you blood sugar spiking and you ate fruit, you blame it on fruit. But what did you eat 15 to 30 minutes before you tested? Your blood sugar could have risen because of the fruit you ate two hours ago added to the carbs you ate 15- 30 minutes ago. Fruit is nutritious and good for diabetics. You may want to time when you eat the fruit. I eat it after my meal. Any other carbs I may have eaten has caused my blood sugar to rise and fall before the fruit ever effects my blood sugar.
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