Diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. If you are diabetic, it means that there is an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA): “25.8 million children and adults in the United States 8.3% of the population have diabetes.” If you have diabetes you should make sure to avoid foods that are high in sugar.
Including certain foods in your diet can help reduce the risk of complications with diabetes.
As a general rule: Limit intake of fruits juices and/or smoothies. They contain large amounts of glucose and can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Opt for vegetable juices instead that contain leafy greens, tomatoes and celery to name a few. But make sure your selection of vegetables is low in sugar. Vegetables also contain sugar.
The vegetable juices for both types 1 and 2 should be a part of a diabetes diet, and if fruits are included it should be checked by a dietician or a physician. All fruit juices contain carbohydrates, and carbs are not recommended.
This diabetic drink is vegetable-based. Carrots are a great food choice for people with type 2 diabetes. They fall into the non-starchy vegetable group and are low in carbohydrates than most foods.
Tomatoes are a good choice for diabetics as they are low in carbs and control the amount of sugar in urine.
Beetroot is recommended for diabetic patients when eaten raw. Though high in sugars, beetroot does not result in high glucose concentration in the blood of diabetic patients. The maximum health benefits of beetroot for diabetics is before or after a meal.
Blend:
1 carrot peeled
1 tomato blanched
1/2 beetroot peeled
Juice of 1 lemon
A dash of Himalayan Pink salt
Note: you may add a peeled cucumber or 3 sprigs of celery
Enjoy!
As always: Consult your health practitioner before changing or including anything new to your diet.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THIS CHART:
1. Fruits Lowest in Sugar:
Lemon and Lime
Raspberries
Blackberries
Cranberries
2. Fruits Low to Medium in Sugar:
Strawberries
Casaba Melon
Papaya
Watermelon
Peaches
Nectarines
Blueberries
Cantaloupes
Honeydew melons
Apples
Guavas
Apricots (fresh, never dried)
Grapefruit
3. Fruits with Medium-High Sugar Content:
Plums
Oranges
Kiwi
Pears
Pineapple
4. Fruits with Highest Sugar Content:
Tangerines
Cherries
Grapes
Pomegranates
Mangoes
Figs
Bananas
