Fruits and Diabetes 

Q. I am diabetic. Does the amount of fruit I eat affect my blood sugar? Can I have three servings of fruit after dinner?

A. The amount of carbohydrates one eats is important for one’s blood sugar control.

Fruits contain carbohydrates in the form of simple carbohydrates so the consumption of fruits can lead to an increase in blood sugar.

It is not advisable to have three servings of fruits at one sitting, especially if one has diabetes.

Simple carbohydrates can cause a spike in one’s blood sugar level thus the amount one consumes at one sitting is important.

Have a fruit with your main meals; the recommendation of fruit intake is two servings per day.

Koay Saw Lan, Head of Dietetics and Nutrition Services, SGH

Ref: Y07