Diabetes And Fresh Fruits

I'm a type 2 diabetic.

Quite a few people in my lifetime have told me it's all my own fault. If I would have ate differently, stop being so lazy (they put it nicer but it means the same thing), controlled my weight, exercised more often... on and on. We've all heard the same comments.

Now I'm not going to say this is true for everyone of us, but with me, my feelings do get hurt easily. Especially when someone who doesn't even know me makes blanket statements like the above which just flat out is not true.

 I'm constantly in motion. I enjoy working. I'm an avid outdoors-person (mainly with the dog, the garden and flower beds or just the landscaping). I'm great at DIY projects. I've built my own garage (with help from my husband), stripped off and re-roofed my house by myself when I was laid off from my job, stoned my sun porch (during the same lay-off), added insulation, new drywall, wallpaper, paint and all the trimmings to my kitchen and dining room plus all kinds of projects just because I think it will look nice when I'm finished. So, keeping myself busy is just, well a hobby of mine.

So, all I'm saying is lazy, no way!

 Exercise, well you've already figured out I can't do all my little projects sitting in the recliner in front of my TV or something.

But through all the years - I'm a diabetic anyway. So I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to find out why and what I can do about it. And one of the first very important things I have researched is fresh fruit because I just flat out love it. But as with most diabetics, we all assume we can't have it. After all, everyone says it's so high in natural sugars.

To me, that is a reason to become depressed.

The Truth About Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit, all that sugar really isn't as bad for you as you believe. Why? There is actually several reasons fresh fruit is a boost to a diabetic's general health. Some of the ways it can help us:

• the natural sugars in fresh fruit is actually counter-balanced by the fiber which is inherent in the fruit itself. This is not true with processed fruits (forget the cans, boxes of juices and bagged varieties. Processing eliminates much of the fiber in fruits). So yes they are higher in sugars, but the fiber actually helps to stabilize your blood sugars thus reducing a high spike as long as you control your portions sizes.
• fresh fruits are an important addition to aid in reducing inflammation in your body. Fruits are high in flavonoids and carotenoids which are both antioxidants. Most type 2 diabetics are always fighting inflammation within the body, one of the reasons we have so many problems with maintaining normal sugar levels.
• fresh fruits actually help you control your desire for sweet foods. Total elimination of everything sweet in your diet leads to cravings. Allowing yourself an occasional serving of fresh fruit gives your body this sought after taste and flavor.

So, yes you are going to have to check with your doctor or dietitian but the normal recommendation by many physicians is an average of 2-3 servings of fresh fruit per day (remember, control those portions). Some of the most healthiest choices include the following:

• the berry families (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries)
• peaches and nectarines
• citrus fruits like pink grapefruit, lemons, limes and an orange
• cherries, apples, pears and plums

Each of these above are much lower on the glycemic scale than the tropical varieties which also is a huge aid in your desire to control those numbers on the meter.