It is a common myth that if you have diabetes you shouldn’t eat certain foods because they are “too sweet.” Some fruits do contain more sugar than others, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat them if you have diabetes. The total amount of carbohydrates affects blood sugar levels more than does the source of carbohydrates or whether the source is a starch or sugar.
One serving of fruit should contain 15 grams of carbohydrates. The size of the serving depends on the carbohydrate content of the fruit. The advantage of eating a low-carbohydrate fruit is that you can consume a larger portion. But whether you eat a low-carb or high-carb fruit, as long as the serving size contains 15 grams of carbohydrates, the effect on your blood sugar is the same.
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! 1/2 medium banana
! 1/2 cup (83 grams) cubed mango
! 1 1/4 cup (190 grams) cubed watermelon
! 1 1/4 cup (180 grams) whole strawberries
! 1/3 cup (80 grams) sapodilla (chikoo)
! 3/4 cup (124 grams) cubed pineapple
Diabetes: Does alcohol and tobacco use increase my risk?
Yes, alcohol and tobacco use increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Although studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) may actually lower the risk of diabetes, the opposite is true for people who drink greater amounts of alcohol.
Heavy alcohol use
Too much alcohol can cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can impair its ability to secrete insulin and ultimately lead to diabetes.
Tobacco use
Tobacco is equally harmful. Tobacco use can increase blood sugar levels and lead to insulin resistance. And the more you smoke, the greater your risk of diabetes.
Heavy smokers — those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day — almost double their risk of developing diabetes, when compared with nonsmokers.
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