A new study published in Nutrition Journal found that diabetics did not benefit from restricting fruit in their diet. There has not been a conclusive answer as to whether fruit consumption should be kept to a minimum in diabetics because of the sugar content or whether the fiber and other nutrients found in fruit mitigate the effect on blood sugar.
The study involved 63 men and women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomized to either a high fruit group ( they were told to consume at least two pieces of fruit per day), or a low fruit group (this group was told to limit fruit intake). All participants received medical nutrition therapy and fruit intake was self-reported. After 12 weeks, the groups reported similar reductions in body weight and waist circumference, and there was no difference between groups in blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin levels.
In response to these results, study authors concluded, [C]onsidering the many possible beneficial effects of fruit, we recommend that fruit intake should not be restricted in Type 2 diabetic subjects.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava notes The widespread idea that eating any sugar is forbidden for diabetics is an old one, and is obviously not borne out by these and other data. Obviously, diabetics, as well as the rest of us, should not overdo sugar consumption, but we should not let unreasonable fears dictate our choices.