Can melon be eaten with type 2 diabetes?

Brief description of the disease

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by a pathology of carbohydrate metabolism. The main symptom of diabetes is high blood glucose. There are several types of the disease, which differ in the mechanism of development of pathology. In type 2 diabetes, there is a violation of the sensitivity of tissues to the action of insulin. In this case, the functions of the pancreas can be preserved, and there is no insulin deficiency. There is no single reason that would cause the development of the disease. Genetics plays an important role, diabetes develops under the influence of provoking factors against a background of hereditary predisposition. The provoking factors include obesity, insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diet. Most often, the disease develops gradually; typical symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Increased thirst, while a person drinks a lot;
  • Dryness of the oral mucosa;
  • Itching, discomfort in the skin and mucous membranes;
  • Increased flow of urine.

If symptoms of diabetes are detected, you need to consult a doctor for further examination and determination of treatment tactics.

In type 2 diabetes, symptoms develop gradually, an acute onset is not typical for the disease.

Nutrition for Diabetes Mellitus: Role in Treatment and Key Points

Treatment of diabetes mellitus includes adherence to a diet, increased physical activity, taking oral hypoglycemic drugs, less often insulin is prescribed. Mild type 2 diabetes can be treated with diet therapy. Often, nutritional therapy is the main and only method of treatment. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with increased body weight. The excess amount of fatty tissue leads to impaired insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, a decrease in body weight and the amount of adipose tissue in particular leads to an improvement in the general condition, carbohydrate metabolism. In this regard, weight loss is one of the key aspects of nutrition in diabetes. If diabetes is accompanied by obesity, the diet should be low in calories. The daily calorie intake is calculated individually, depending on gender, weight and activity level during the day. The number of calories consumed can range from 1200 to 2000 kcal per day. With heavy physical work, the daily calorie intake may be higher (up to 2800-3200 kcal). The second important aspect of diet therapy for diabetes is the effect of food on the state of carbohydrate metabolism. All pathological symptoms, acute and chronic complications are due to prolonged hyperglycemia. Accordingly, the higher the glycemic level, the more severe the lesions occur. The diet for illness should be formulated in such a way as to avoid a sharp rise in blood sugar. Foods that dramatically increase glycemic levels are excluded. These are foods that have a high glycemic index. This category includes sugar, honey, chocolate, as well as sweet fruits and berries – grapes, bananas, melons.

Diabetics need to follow a diet for a long time, often for life. Short-term diet therapy will not have a positive effect on health.

So, is it possible to eat a particular product, including melon, with type 2 diabetes depends on two points:

  1. Calorie content of the product – is it high in calories, does it exceed the daily norm,
  2. The amount of carbohydrates – whether the consumption of the product will lead to a sharp increase in the level of glycemia.

Products that negatively affect the state of the pancreas and all types of metabolism are completely excluded. For example, foods that have a high glycemic index, that is, they can dramatically increase the level of glycemia. Glucose surges lead to decompensation of the state, this can complicate the development of ketosis or hyperglycemic coma.

Melon health benefits

To the question: is it possible to eat a melon with type 2 diabetes, the answer is yes. But! Melon is one of the foods that should be limited in diabetes. This is due to the property of melon to dramatically increase glucose content. However, it is not necessary to completely eliminate the product from the diet. Melon also has beneficial properties due to which the product is approved for consumption. The first benefit is that melon is high in fiber. Fiber has a beneficial effect on the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, prevents the development of constipation. In addition, eating fiber reduces the absorption of carbohydrates. Another benefit of melon is its mild diuretic effect. Due to the increased diuresis, metabolic products and toxic substances are also excreted with water. This reduces the symptoms of intoxication, improves overall health. The indirect effect on metabolism is determined. In addition, melon is low in calories, which can contribute to weight loss. Despite the fact that melon contains a large amount of carbohydrates, it is a low-calorie product. Since most type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, low-calorie foods are recommended. This creates a calorie deficit and, if diet is followed, will lead to gradual weight loss.

Melon is not a fruit or berry, the fruit belongs to the Pumpkin family (false berry).

Melon is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. The pulp contains many important substances for health, including antioxidants. The composition contains the following vitamins:

  1. Vitamin A – affects the state of vision, has antioxidant properties, 
  2. B vitamins – protect the nervous system, prevent damage to nerve cells and the development of neuritis, 
  3. Ascorbic acid – performs an antioxidant function, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, prevents the development of retinopathy, 
  4. Vitamin E is the main antioxidant, neutralizes oxidation products. 

The antioxidant tocopherol (vitamin E) in the melon directly affects the mechanism of development of complications. It neutralizes free radicals that are formed when glucose is utilized. This prevents damage to the vascular wall, nerves and brain. Microelements have a beneficial effect: magnesium, silicon, potassium, zinc. Magnesium affects the state of the nervous system, sufficient intake of this mineral reduces the risk of developing late complications. Zinc has a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism, reduces the risk of heart, kidney and eye damage. Eating melon can help prevent many of the complications of diabetes. For example, melon reduces the risk of developing diseases of the genitourinary system, which are so typical for diabetics.

Negative effect on glycemic levels

Melon is a high glycemic food. Such foods should be used with caution by diabetics . For type 2 diabetics, the maximum amount of melon consumed per day should be limited to 100-150 grams. During an exacerbation of diabetes mellitus, it is best to abstain from using this product altogether.

Since consumption of melon quickly increases blood glucose levels, even if the daily intake of this product is observed, it is necessary to control the sugar content in the patient’s capillary blood.

In addition to controlling the level of glycemia, it is necessary to adjust the patient’s daily diet in accordance with the consumption of a new product, which is a source of rapidly digestible carbohydrates. Eating large amounts of melons in one meal can spike your glucose levels. In this case, the level of glycemia can increase so much that it will cause the development of early complications – hyperglycemic or diabetic coma. With frequent consumption of melon, the level of glycemia increases, which is associated with an increased risk of complications. Long-term decompensation leads to damage to blood vessels, nerves, eyes and urinary system. As a result, whether it is possible to eat melon with diabetes mellitus is determined primarily by the frequency and quantity of the product. Often and in large quantities (more than 200-400 grams at a time) – it is impossible.

How to eat melon

Despite the negative effect of melon on carbohydrate metabolism, it is a healthy product, and it is not necessary to completely exclude it from the diet. It is important to adhere to certain rules and recommendations, which will reduce the negative impact of the melon. First of all, the recommendations relate to the amount of product consumed, as mentioned earlier. 100 grams of melon contains the same amount of carbohydrates as 1 slice of bread. Therefore, it is categorically not recommended to consume more than 100 grams at a time. The second rule is to reduce the amount of other carbohydrates on the day the melon is consumed. The amount of carbohydrates consumed in type 2 diabetes is measured in units of bread.

1 XE contains a 1 cm high slice of bread.

It is possible to reduce the negative effect of the product by eating an unripe melon. An unripe product contains less fructose. Accordingly, the glycemic level will not rise as sharply. It is strongly discouraged to eat melon on an empty stomach. In this case, the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine increases. It is best to eat melon after a hearty breakfast or lunch that is high in fiber. Melon is best eaten with a little coconut oil. Even a small amount of oil (literally a few drops) reduces the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestines.

Bitter melon

There is information indicating that some varieties of melon only do not harm the body in diabetes, but also have a positive effect on the mechanism of development of the disease. Traditional medicine recipes are based on the beneficial properties of bitter melon ( momordica ). Momordica is believed to be able to activate the pancreas. Thus, when bitter melon is consumed, insulin production is activated. This helps to normalize glucose levels and improve the course of the disease. By the way, momordica is often present in vitamin complexes and dietary supplements for diabetics. An immature fetus is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Before use, you need to peel the melon from the peel, its pulp has a less bitter taste. Eating bitter melon has its own contraindications. Whether a product can be eaten depends on several factors:

  • Conditions of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • Glycemic level;
  • Diabetes compensation degree.

Before using bitter melon as an adjunctive treatment, be sure to consult with your doctor. Contraindications include acute diseases of the digestive tract, hypersensitivity to the product, food allergies.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *