In this brief article, we will answer the question “can diabetics eat oranges?” We will also discuss how many oranges a diabetic can have in a day and the health benefits of oranges
Can diabetics eat oranges?
Yes, diabetics can eat oranges and include them as part of their balanced diet.It is important for a diabetic to incorporate citric foods and oranges are the best, as they play an integral role in any diet.
Moreover, the consumption of oranges for diabetics depends on their glycemic index. For a medium orange the glycemic index is at 42. Therefore eating four oranges could cause the blood sugar to spike due to an increase in the glycemic index
What is a glycemic index?
The food glycemic index is an index used to determine how fast a carbohydrate is hydrolysed or broken down to glucose and be absorbed into the bloodstream. The higher the glycemic index, the more quickly the carbohydrates are absorbed, and the more likely they are to cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
Oranges have a glycemic index of around 40, which means that they are absorbed relatively slowly and are unlikely to cause a sharp increase in blood sugar levels.
However, people with diabetes or other conditions that cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels should still be cautious when eating oranges, as they may still cause a rise in blood sugar levels if consumed in large quantities.
How are oranges beneficial to the health of diabetics?
Some benefits of oranges for diabetics include the fact that oranges are loaded with fiber that help in blood sugar regulation , and that the vitamin C content in them are essential for people with diabetes
Additionally, oranges can help keep diabetics hydrated, and their high water content can also help regulate blood sugar levels.
Oranges are known to contain antioxidants that play a key role in preventing complications that may rise such as stroke and heart failure.. Moreover, insulin sensitivity which is essential for diabetics can be improved by the flavonoids present in oranges.
Overall, oranges can be a helpful addition to the diet of someone with diabetes, as they can provide essential nutrients to the body as well as help in blood sugar level regulation and help protect against some of the complications of the disease.
How many oranges can a diabetic eat in a day?
Diabetics can eat a maximum of three oranges in a day. The Association of Diabetes in America (ADA) advises that a diet for someone with diabetes should consist of proteins, fats and carbohydrates at 35, 30 and 45 percent respectively.
6-7 servings can be approximated to give about 220-300 carbohydrates. This is for someone who can consume about 1800 calories. One serving of fresh oranges contains about 15 grams of carbohydrates, so a person with diabetes could potentially have 2-3 servings of oranges per day as part of their overall carbohydrate intake.
What can diabetics eat as a substitute for oranges?
One substitute for oranges for diabetics is to eat grapefruit instead. Grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C and both soluble and insoluble fiber and it has a lower glycemic index than oranges. Other substitutes for oranges include tangerines, lemon, and lime.
- Tangerines contain Vitamin C and fiber. They have a lower glycemic index than oranges.
- Lemon contains Vitamin C and fiber. It has a lower glycemic index than oranges.
- Lime contains Vitamin C and fiber. It has a lower glycemic index than oranges.
What side effects do oranges give to diabetics?
The high sugar content in oranges can cause side effects to some diabetics. An increase in sugar levels is known to cause sudden rise in the levels of blood sugar which is fatal for diabetics. It is important to check the label of any oranges that you purchase to make sure that they do not contain added sugar.
Oranges can also interact with some medications, such as blood thinners. It is important for a diabetic to therefore consult Doctor before consuming some citric fruit when taking some types of medicines.
For more details on how oranges and blood thinners work. Click here
Conclusion
In this brief article we have answered the question “can diabetics eat oranges?” We have also discussed how many oranges diabetics can eat in a day and the side effects of oranges.
Hope you find this blog useful, in case of any questions, please let us know
