What fruits is not suitable for a diabetic to eat?

Diabetics often ask whether it is safe for them to eat large quantities of fruit. Many diabetic patients avoid eating fruit because they are worried that the high sugar content found in most fruits will worsen their condition. Fortunately, there are many fruits a diabetic can enjoy which do not significantly affect blood glucose levels, in fact certain fruits may actually improve glucose control and insulin sensitivity over time.

Fruits with high amounts of the sugars glucose and sucrose tend to have high GI values and should only be eaten in small amounts as they can spike blood glucose levels very quickly. Most however can still be enjoyed in small quantities as part of a healthy diabetic meal plan. High GI fruits include bananas, cantaloupes, dates, grapes, watermelon, pineapples, and oranges. Dates in particular should be eaten sparingly because they have an extremely high sugar content per serving (55g in half a cup of chopped dates). Combine this with a relatively high GI of 53 and you have a food that will produce a significant glycemic response, even in small amounts.

The GI of bananas varies widely depending on ripeness. This is because some of the starch in bananas is converted into more readily absorbed sugars as the banana ripens. The GI of a green banana is around 40 compared to 60 for an over-ripe banana. Diabetics who enjoy eating bananas should stick to slightly green bananas to avoid blood sugar spikes.

Fruit juices tend to be stripped of the pulpy fibrous parts of the fruit and therefore are very low in fiber and high in sugar. Many fruit juices manufacturers add additional sugar to their fruit juices to the extent that some fruit juices have higher sugar levels than carbonated sodas. A glass of fruit juice a day probably won't hurt but if you're drinking much more than this, consider cutting back by diluting the juice with water.

Dried fruits tend to have a significant effect on blood sugar levels due to their high sugar content by weight. Canned fruit in syrup also tends to be high in sugar and therefore should be eaten in moderation or drained of the syrup before consuming. Many fruits can be purchased canned in their own juices rather than in syrup – these should be used when available.