When it comes to choosing fruits for diabetics, it can be a challenge. Watermelon is one among them. So, can diabetics eat watermelon?
To know, it is essential to know a fruit's glycemic index (GI). It's a scale that gauges how rapidly your blood sugar levels will rise after eating certain foods.
On a scale of 0-100, the lower the number, the slower the blood sugar is absorbed.
According to Medical News Today, the GI of a watermelon is 72 or higher. A food with a GI of 70 or above is regarded to be a "high" GI food item.
However, watermelon also contains a large proportion of water. This suggests it has a low glycemic load, which measures how much sugar or carbs a food has.
Watermelon has a glycemic load of only 5, so while it has a high GI and causes sugar to enter the bloodstream quickly, it doesn't actually contain that much sugar.
According to Medical News Today, watermelon contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.
Watermelon should be consumed with fats and proteins, such as nuts or seeds, to help slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
There is a significant difference in glycemic load between raw and juiced watermelon, and the latter should be avoided if at all possible.