Apricots for type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus develops with impaired production of the hormone insulin and proceeds chronically. Diet in such cases is an integral part of treatment. What about fruits? On the one hand, it is a tasty source of vitamins, on the other hand, it is a supplier of a sweet component undesirable for diabetics. Do I need fruits, in particular apricots for diabetes?

Apricot fruits are rich in minerals, organic acids, phenolic compounds and carbohydrates. Fruits can be consumed fresh or dried, but most world-made apricots are consumed fresh. [1]

Apricot is a rich source of sugars, fibers, minerals, bioactive phytochemicals and vitamins such as A, C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. Among phytochemicals, phenolic, carotenoid and antioxidant substances play an important role in their biological value. [2]

Can I eat apricots for type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

In 2013, 382 million people were diagnosed with diabetes; It is expected that by 2035 this figure will increase to 592 million. [3]

The tendency to type 1 diabetes is inherited, although it may not occur immediately. He is not cured, but, in principle, they live with him a full-fledged life. Under two conditions: regular insulin injections and diet. [4]

Type 2 diabetes causes various causes. Excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, pathology of the pancreas, poor nutrition - any of these factors or their combination can be an impetus to the development of the process. The disease is treatable, but it is not an easy task. [5]

• Both types of disease have enough nutritional limitations. They mainly relate to products containing carbohydrates, including fruits.

Can I eat apricots for type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Indeed, in addition to sugar components, the fruits are saturated with vital compounds. Especially vitamins, in the very name of which there is the word "vita", that is - life.

• Kiwi, tangerines, pomelo, plums, watermelons, pears, raspberries, apricots - with type 1 diabetes there are almost no forbidden fruits and berries.

It is not the range and varieties that are regulated, but the quantity and time of use. Grapes can be an exception, in a limited amount they use pomegranate seeds and juicy tower peanuts - watermelons, melons. And bananas and pineapples will have to be abandoned. Almost all dried fruits are also dangerous, because the sugar concentration in them is too high.

However, experienced specialists believe that not a single fruit will harm if not abused, and that plant fruits, including sweet ones, should be included in the diet of a diabetic. They contain many substances that are beneficial for the body, provide taste pleasure, which also can not be replaced. The phrase “if you can’t, but really want, then you can” is probably about such cases, and each person in their choice should be guided by common sense and intuition.

Apricots for gestational diabetes

The gestational type of diabetes is then spoken if the fasting venous blood sugar index falls into the “corridor” between 5.1 and 7.0 mmol / L. This is no longer the norm, but also not a pathology. Such uncertainty associated with a violation of carbohydrate metabolism is first found in pregnant women, often in the second half of the term. [6]

• The named diagnosis is a consequence of natural physiological changes; arises in the presence of risk factors, but means that before pregnancy, sugar levels were normal.

Blood sugar can be reduced by changing diets and exercise. However, if these activities are not enough to lower your blood sugar, you also need to take medication. It can be tablets or insulin injections. [7] Apricots with gestational diabetes are included in the diet of a pregnant woman. Other fruits are allowed - plums, peaches, grapefruits, apples. They promote digestion, enrich with vitamins, and improve appetite. Preference is to the fruits of the green-yellow color range.

• Of course, that all issues related to nutrition, a woman must decide together with the doctor. The responsibility of the expectant mother is that the fetus receives proper nutrition, and she herself is healthy and cheerful.

Eating apricots for diabetes, you should eat less other sweet fruits, especially at breakfast, when sensitivity to insulin is maximum.

• There is an alternative opinion. For example, it is recommended that all fruits, including dried fruits, be completely eliminated as a source of unwanted sugar. This applies not only to glucose, but also fructose.

It is suggested that if the sugar level is elevated after eating fruits, then the body does not tolerate them. And as if any person with diabetes could do without them, scooping up vitamins and other useful substances from nuts and allowed vegetables.

Benefits

The benefits of apricot in diabetes

The composition of delicate aromatic fruits has many components that give pleasure and benefit to healthy people. The question of the benefits of apricot in diabetes for a sick person must be decided on the basis of the recommendations of the attending physician and their own taste preferences.

Here are just some of the properties of fruits:

• contains antioxidants, a lot of potassium, provitamin A, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, fiber and makes up for their deficiency;
• increases hemoglobin;
• counteracts obesity;
• prevents goiter;
• removes toxins;
• improves brain activity;
• normalizes the acidity of the stomach.

When discussing the problem, there is advice to buy apricots with diabetes that are not ripe, arguing that there is much less sugar in them, and there are enough useful ingredients. Who will follow this advice should take into account that the laxative effect in such apricots is even stronger than in ripe ones.

• Apricot tree fruits are very useful for women who are expecting and nursing a baby. They prevent constipation, positively affect the fetus, lactation and milk quality.

Apricot fruits have different varieties and contain different levels of polyphenols, as summarized by Macheix et al. Chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid) is the dominant phenolic compound in apricots. Other phenolic compounds defined in apricots are neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, n-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and their esters. (+) - Catechin and (-) - epicatechin are also defined in apricot fruits and their products. Flavonols in apricots are mainly found in the form of glucosides and rutinosides of quercetin and kempferol, however, quercetin 3-rutinoside (rutin) predominates. [8] Apricot fruits contain different levels of phytochemicals, such as vitamins, carotenoids and polyphenols, which are decisive factors in the taste, color and nutritional value of fruits.

Apricots contain nutrients such as β-carotene, retinol, vitamin E and lycopene. [9], [10]

Unfortunately, apricots with diabetes can do much harm - first of all, due to the abundance of sugar. They are also incompatible with meat and some other products; due to their incompatibility, stomach troubles and a sharp rise in blood sugar can occur.

• However, no matter how many laudatory words addressed to honey fruits, one should not consider them a panacea and try to eat only them. A normal serving for a healthy person is limited: from 100 to 300 g per day.

Speaking of apricots, we mean first of all fresh fruits. Dry, canned, and frozen fruits and seeds have their own benefits. By the way, even the filling for homemade pies is made of the latter. Not to mention jam, pastille, compotes, teas, dumplings, pies and cakes, the recipes of which every housewife has.

Skillful hands use everything, including leaves and bark, resinous secretions of apricot tree. And not only as a food product, but also a cosmetic product. Women add pulp to shampoos, and ground bones to scrubs.

Apricot kernels for diabetes

Not everyone knows that bones can be useful, so they are thrown away calmly after eating fruits.

Apricot kernels are composed of glycosides, including amygdalin, oils, including oleic acid and linoleic acid, essential oils, such as benzaldehyde. In addition, apricot kernels contain polyphenols, such as flavonoids and, accordingly, gallic acid. [11]  The presence of oleic and linoleic acids in the apricot kernel increases its nutritional and medicinal value. [12]

They have antiproliferative (anticancer),  [13] antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal  [14] and other pharmacological properties. [15]

Dried apricots with diabetes

Speaking about apricots in diabetes, one cannot fail to mention whether dried apricots are useful in diabetes. These are dried fruits with seeds removed. The polyphenolic profile of dried apricots is as follows: epicatechins, chlorogenic acid, rutin, ferulic and gallic acids. [16]

There are disagreements among experts on this issue. Some argue that dried apricots, like other dried fruits, are dangerous because they contain sugar in high concentrations. Others assert that the main thing is the glycemic index, and complications can be easily avoided by strictly dosing the products, and dried apricots - especially.

Numerous useful substances necessary for the diabetic's body speak in her favor. When choosing a dried fruit, pay attention to its appearance. Natural processing gives not as bright as chemical, but high-quality products. Chemicals make the product beautiful, but dangerous.

What can and what can not?

What kind of fruits can not network with diabetes?

Information about which fruits can not be eaten with diabetes can be found in special tables. They indicate other products, but fruits are of particular importance, because they differ in sugar-enhancing effect. The patient should be aware of each fetus: which one can dramatically increase, and which stabilizes the sugar?

• It was previously believed that fruits in the diet of a diabetic are unacceptable. Modern medicine is convinced that without them, a person lacks vitamins, and this does not contribute to treatment. And that correctly selected fruits, among them apricots for diabetes, on the contrary, normalize glucose levels.

Fresh apples, oranges, pears, peaches are also on the list of allowed. Moderation is the second condition for eating fruit. Too get carried away even with unsweetened fruits is not worth it. So, apricots are enough 3 pieces. The best time for them is the first half of the day, between meals.

The goal of the diet is to minimize sugar surges. Fast carbohydrates are not allowed, so sweet grapes, watermelon, cherries, bananas, melons are prohibited. Dried apricots are also in this column, as well as fruit and berry juices of home-made production. Although some sources say that those dried fruits that are fresh and not dangerous are allowed. And to the forbidden belong figs, raisins, dates, dried slices of bananas.

It should be noted that even in a somewhat “truncated” form, the fruit menu for diabetes is varied enough so that the patient’s life is not devoid of taste amenities.

Contraindications

Contraindications

According to some, diabetes is a contraindication for eating all sweet fruits, apricot in all forms including. Others believe that moderate apricot in diabetes will be very helpful. But the real contraindications are different: liver disease, allergies, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis.

Perhaps this contradiction is caused by individual differences in patients. But there are general contraindications, such as hypotension, age up to a year, a tendency to digestive upsets.

Complications

Possible complications

Fasting use of apricot in diabetes is fraught with disorders, including poisoning. Complications of the same nature are possible if you eat fruits after a dense meat meal.

• It should be remembered that canned apricots and compotes should not be eaten: they are sweeter than fresh and dried. At the same time, bright yellow fresh is useful and absorbed better than whole fruits.

A large portion causes diarrhea, in those prone to hypotension - a slight decrease in pressure. Among the rare, but possible complications, dizziness, hypotension, impaired breathing and heart contractions, intussusception due to obstruction of the small intestine caused by the use of dried apricots were observed. [17], [18]

Reviews

Enthusiastic words prevail in the reviews about the unique tastes of sunny fruits associated with eastern markets. Some call them tropical, but they are more likely eastern, and the south of Ukraine, where they also bear fruit, are not tropics yet.

People share recipes for jam and pastille, dumplings and pies, tea from leaves and bark. Specifically, little is written about the benefits of apricot in diabetes. One doctor recommends that diabetics completely abandon all berries and fruits and suggest reviews from people with type 2 diabetes who have achieved remission solely due to such a sacrifice.                                                                                                            

The subject of apricot in diabetes is mixed. Those suffering from this disease should approach the issue thoroughly, based on the recommendations of the treating endocrinologist and the body's response to the product. If the state of health and blood counts do not change, and the doctor does not forbid, then the infrequent use of apricot in moderation is not a danger.