Is Melon Good for Diabetics?

Yes, melons are suitable for diabetics, even though they have a high glycemic index (GI), the parameter that shows the rate at which the sugar from a particular food enters the bloodstream. Therefore, high GI foods are a complete "no" for diabetics.

However, when we consider the glycemic load (GL) of melons, it is very low. It is the measure of the amount of carbohydrate in a portion of food and the speed at which it actually raises blood glucose levels. That is, GL is the combination of the GI and the actual carbohydrate content in one serving of that food.

So, where diabetics are concerned, GL is the one that needs to be considered. All thanks to the high proportion of water, a slice of melon actually has very little amount of sugar per serving, meaning that its effect on blood sugar is extremely low.

To top it off, melons are rich in vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, and lycopene, which are all very beneficial for people with diabetes.

How Melon Fruits Affect Your Blood Sugar

The carbs you consume are directly proportional to your portion size. Therefore, when we eat a serving of watermelon which has a high GI, we aren’t petrified as its GL is a low 4.3 per 2 cups.

Similarly, the GI of musk melon is 65, but the GL is only 3.14 for a portion size of 1 cup.

Therefore, melons are good for diabetics and can be part of the diabetes management solution.

Benefits of Melon Nutrients for Diabetics

• Water-soluble vitamins Melons are very rich in vitamins C and B, which help regulate blood glucose levels in type-2 diabetics (1).
• Lycopene Watermelon contains lycopene, the red pigment and powerful antioxidant that may reduce the risk of diabetes. Research also says that eating watermelon may help reduce certain diabetes-related complications (2).
• Potassium Just two wedges can provide you with 640 m of potassium. This mineral helps regulate your blood sugar levels by improving the cell’s insulin sensitivity (3).

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided by DarioHealth Corp. programs is general in nature and is not meant to replace the advice or care you get from your doctor or other health care professional.

Resources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4435229/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8245064/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3197792/

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