Watermelon has a high glycemic index, diabetics should eat the same healthy fats, fiber and protein to slow the absorption of sugar into the blood.
People with diabetes should have a balanced, nutritious diet consisting of a large proportion of fruits and vegetables.
However, fruits contain natural sugars, so patients need to control their intake.
Patients should choose fruits with low GI and high fiber intake, avoiding juices and fruit smoothies.
Some fruits have a low GI, which can lower blood sugar levels such as citrus family, berries (grapes, strawberries), nuts (peaches, plums), pears, kiwi.
The glycemic index (GI) plays an important role in determining the degree of influence of food on blood sugar levels.
GI measures the rate at which sugar from food enters the bloodstream.
The faster this process, the more likely it is to have a spike in blood glucose.
Watermelons have a high GI, about 72 (GI of 70 and above is high). However, according to the Defeat Diabetes Foundation (USA), due to the high proportion of water in watermelon, diabetics can eat watermelon in a normal diet in moderation. The diet of about 120 grams of watermelon is ONLY AT 5.
The organization also recommends that people with diabetes avoid watermelon juice because there is a higher amount of sugar than fresh watermelon, which will increase blood sugar more.
Patients can combine watermelon with foods rich in healthy fats, fiber and protein to slow down the absorption of sugar into the blood and feel fuller for longer.
