Can Diabetics Eat Watermelon?

Basically, water melon is nutritious and hydrating. But if you are a diabetic then it is better to stay away from it.

Thursday, April 13, 2017, 17:04 [IST]

Does water melon affect your blood sugar levels? Well, firstly, let us try to understand a bit about insulin resistance.

When you eat a food, insulin gets released in order to turn the glucose in the food into energy. High blood sugar levels are bad as it could raise the risk of several diseases.

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Basically, water melon is nutritious and hydrating. But if you are a diabetic then it is better to stay away from it. Or consult your doctor about it.

Here are some facts about water melon and blood sugar levels.

Fact #1

A cup of watermelon comes with almost 14 grams of carbs. If you have diabetes, you should be careful with your carb intake.

So, if you eat watermelon, you may need to reduce your carbs in your next meal accordingly in order to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

In order to keep your blood sugar levels under control, you might need to eat 40-60 grams of carbs in every meal of the day.

Anything lesser than that or more than that may disturb the stability of your blood sugar levels.

Fact #2

The glycemic index of water melon is 72. This means that it can affect your blood sugar levels. It gets digested fast. And yes, it could cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.

Also Read: 9 Reasons Why Watermelon Is A Must Have This Summer

Fact #3

If you wish to eat water melon, eat it with any food that has low glycemic index in order to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Fact #4

If you can plan your remaining meals carefully basing on the calories and carbohydrate content in the other foods, you can enjoy water melon too.

Fact #5

A cup of watermelon comes with nearly 12 grams of sugar, 55 calories and 15 grams of carbs. It is advisable to eat it long with protein food or any other food that has low glycemic index. Oat meal is a good choice. It will keep the blood sugar levels stable.