Fruit is OK for diabetics

Which fruits should diabetics avoid?

-- Rachael

Carson

The sugar content of fruit leads some diabetics to assume it is forbidden.

Not so, says Dr. Adrienne Youdim, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Center for Weight Loss. Not fresh fruit, anyway. “In no way should the point be made that fruits are unhealthy and to be avoided by diabetics or anyone,” she says. They should be incorporated daily into a diabetic’s diet, since they provide a slew of vitamins and minerals. Many fresh fruits are also a great source of fiber.

Fruit gets its sweetness from the sugar fructose. Like other carbohydrate-rich foods (such as bread, potatoes and many vegetables), they raise the body’s blood-sugar level, which is why diabetics need to be careful about the amount of all carbohydrates they consume.

“You do need to pay attention to fructose like you would any other carbs,” says Ann Albright, president of healthcare and education for the Alexandria, Va.,-based American Diabetes Assn.

A diabetic’s response to eating fruit and other carb-rich foods will vary depending on time of day, current glucose levels, what else is or was being eaten, how the food was prepared and any medications being taken. That’s why it’s important, says Albright, to monitor blood-sugar levels.

There are other factors to consider when eating fruit.

* Keep portion sizes reasonable. All apples are not created equal, Albright says -- some are the size of small watermelons and others fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. The bigger the fruit, the more carbs, so be aware of the extra punch super-size fruits can pack.

* Some fruits have a higher glycemic index than others, Youdim says. Glycemic index is the measure of how carbohydrates affect blood-sugar levels; some foods break down more rapidly than others, spiking blood sugar faster.

Among high glycemic fruits are watermelon, pineapple and ripe bananas; these don’t have to be avoided, just more carefully incorporated. Low on the list: cherries, apples, peaches.

* Be a bit more careful about non-fresh fruits, such as ones that are dried and canned in syrup -- both have higher sugar contents. Unsweetened fruit juice is fine, but again, keep portion size in mind, Albright says: “Juice is not verboten, but don’t think that drinking a 32-ounce glass is OK because it’s healthy. The carb content is not that far off from a soda.”

* If you’re not sure how to incorporate certain foods into your diet or plan meals, Albright suggests working with a dietitian or healthcare provider to create a program you can follow.

The American Diabetes Assn. has tips on incorporating fruit into a diet, as well as general nutrition information, at the following websites:

* www.diabetes.org/nutrition- and-recipes/nutrition/fruit.jsp

* www.diabetes.org/nutrition- and-recipes/nutrition/ healthyfoodchoices.jsp

* www.diabetes.org/nutrition- and-recipes/nutrition/ overview.jsp

-- Jeannine Stein

--

To read other Ask Us columns, go to latimes.com/askhealth.