Fruits for Gestational Diabetes, Simple List and Portions - A Guide (2023)

FAQs

Fruits for Gestational Diabetes, Simple List and Portions - A Guide? ›

1 medium whole fruit (such as a banana, apple, or orange) 1/2 cup (170 grams) chopped, frozen, cooked, or canned fruit. 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) fruit juice.

Milk is a healthy food and an important source of calcium. However, milk is a liquid form of carbohydrate and drinking too much at one time can raise your blood sugar. Fruit is a healthy food, but it is high in natural sugars. You may eat one to three portions of fruit per day, but only eat one at a time.

Yep, you can still eat fruit if you have gestational diabetes. You'll just need eat it in moderation. If you're concerned, or want help keeping track of the carbs that are included in the fruits you'd like to eat, talk to a registered dietitian.

Yes—grapes can be enjoyed by people with diabetes! Read on to learn more about the health benefits of grapes, plus the best ways to eat grapes to keep blood sugar under control. People with diabetes don't have to avoid fresh fruit, even grapes.

If you have diabetes, the key to maintaining your blood sugar is to use portion control. Thanks to the low-carbohydrate density of strawberries, you can safely enjoy a 1¼-cup serving. The diabetic exchange for blueberries is 3/4 cup.

Bananas are nutritious and low in calories, which makes them a healthy addition to the list of foods to eat with gestational diabetes in moderation.

Pineapple, watermelon, mango, lychee, and banana have a high GI, so these are the worst fruits if you are diabetic. These fruits can be included in your daily diet plan after consulting a nutrition expert. Alternatively, these fruits can be substituted with low GI fruits such as avocado, citrus fruits, berries, etc.

How much fruit should you be eating during pregnancy? Medical professionals usually recommend eating two to four servings of fruit and four to five servings of vegetables each day. In general, one serving of fruit is: a medium piece of whole fruit (about the size of a tennis ball)

Is watermelon OK for gestational diabetes? ›

As such, women with preexisting diabetes or who develop high blood sugar levels in pregnancy — known as gestational diabetes — may want to avoid eating large portions of watermelon (18, 19 , 20 ).

Also, grapes deliver a better insulin control as well as enhances insulin sensitivity. Grapes in all types i.e., green, red, or blue-purple are good for people with diabetes.

Some commonly eaten fresh fruits may raise your blood sugar more quickly than others. These include figs, grapes, mangos, cherries and bananas. Eat them in moderation and in the suggested serving size of one small fruit or 1/2 cup.

For people with diabetes looking to incorporate fruit into their dietary plan, pineapples can be a good choice. However, since they can cause small spikes in blood sugar, eat them in moderation.

Fresh, fragrant peaches are a warm-weather treat you can include in your diabetes-friendly diet. One medium peach contains 59 calories and 14 g of carbohydrates, according to the USDA.

Peanut butter has an impressive nutritional profile. Eating it during pregnancy may help manage gestational diabetes, boost your protein intake, and prevent and relieve constipation.

Can I eat pizza with gestational diabetes? ›

The short answer to this question is yes, people with diabetes can enjoy all types of pizza.

In general, foods that cause blood sugar level to rise the most are those that are high in carbohydrates, which are quickly converted into energy, such as rice, bread, fruits and sugar. Next are foods high in protein, such as meats, fish eggs, milk and dairy products, and oily foods.

People living with diabetes should look to avoid vegetables with a high GI rating, as the body absorbs blood sugar from those foods much quicker compared with low-GI foods. This includes artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, eggplant/aubergine, green beans, lettuce, peppers, snow peas and spinach.”

Unless you are following a ketogenic diet or have some sort of intolerance, there really is no reason to limit the amount of fruit you eat. While most studies suggest that the optimal amount is two to five servings of fruit per day, there seems to be no harm in eating more.

Papaya – It tops the list for obvious reasons. Raw or semi ripe papaya contains latex which can induce premature contractions and that can be dangerous for your baby.

Yes, if you have diabetes, you can eat cucumbers. In fact, since they're so low in carbohydrates, you can almost eat as many as you want whenever you want.

How can I control gestational diabetes in my third trimester? ›

Eat a meal low in carbohydrates before this test. Example of foods to eat for breakfast would be eggs, cheese, bacon and or sausage. Avoid breads, cereals and fruit juices. Example of foods for lunch would be lettuce/salad with any kind of meat.

Drinking water before a fasting blood sugar test can actually decrease blood sugar levels, or at least prevent levels from getting too high.

These activities can also affect your results. But you can drink water. It's actually good to drink water before a blood test. It helps keep more fluid in your veins, which can make it easier to draw blood.

Popcorn. As long as it's not served with butter or salt, popcorn is considered a good whole-grain snack for diabetes (Asif, 2014). Popcorn is low in calories, which can support a healthy weight and overall management of type 2 diabetes.

Cantaloupe Health Benefits

That's almost as juicy as a watermelon. The high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4. That means your body digests it slowly and it won't make your blood sugar spike. So it's a great pick for people with diabetes.

Generally speaking, yes, it's OK to eat honey if you have diabetes. But you should consume it in moderation. Although honey has a lower glycemic index (GI) than table sugar, it still contains sugar. And any type of sugar will raise your blood glucose levels.

Dietary guidelines recommend five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. That's true whether or not you have diabetes, Pierce says. Since fruits have more calories and sugar than veggies, try to strike a balance. She recommends breaking up your five servings into three veggie servings and two fruit servings.

The main sugar in fruit, called fructose, is quickly taken up by the liver, converted to glucose, and released into the bloodstream. So, fruit can cause glucose levels to rise. However, fruits also contain fiber, a nutrient that can slow carbohydrate digestion and help manage blood sugar levels.

Portion sizes

A person with diabetes should aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Does eating a lot of fruit raise blood sugar levels? ›

Yes, it's true that fruit can spike blood sugar levels, but that's no reason to strip it from your diet entirely. After all, fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which are great for your health and management of type 2 diabetes, Thomas says.

Blackberries and blueberries won't raise blood sugar levels as much as other fruits. These berries are high in fiber and have the highest concentrations of anthocyanins, which inhibit certain digestive enzymes to slow down digestion. They also prevent spikes in blood sugar after eating starch-rich meals.

Remember that the serving size for fruits and vegetables is about 4 to 6 ounces.

Sugar found naturally in milk, fruit and vegetables does not count as free sugars. We do not need to cut down on these sugars, but remember that they are included in the "total sugar" figure found on food labels.

Fruit, like many other foods, can raise blood sugar. Frequent blood sugar spikes can elevate your A1C, a measure of how high your blood sugar is on average. The higher the A1C level, the less well your body is managing the condition. But fruit doesn't have to be off the table if you're a person with diabetes.

Current nutrition guidelines recommend that people with diabetes consume 2–4 servings of fruit per day, which is the same as the general population ( 34 ). Still, some people restrict the amount they eat because they are worried about the sugar content.

For the general public, sugar in fruit is not bad as long as you consume the whole fruit and not just fruit juice or products that contain sweetened fruit pieces. When we are seeking to limit sugars, added sugars are more of a concern.