Persimmon and Diabetes - Is It Good For Diabetics
Introduction
We will talk about how persimmon can help control blood sugar levels and its beneficial effects on diabetes. Persimmons' carbohydrates and glycemic index can differ depending on the variety and growing conditions; however, in this article, these numbers are for an average persimmon.
Glycemic Index and Carbohydrates
The total amount of carbs you eat directly impacts your blood glucose levels, so it is better to track what you consume.
One medium-sized persimmon contains 9g of carbohydrates. Dietary fiber accounts for 20% of those carbohydrates; the rest are sugars. You can find detailed information on persimmon nutrition here.
Persimmon has a glycemic index equal to 61, which is considered a moderate GI.
Even though persimmons have moderate GI, their consumption will not quickly raise your blood sugar levels due to fiber content.
Also, you can visit our Glycemic index chart page to find GI values of 350+ pages.
Type-2 Diabetes
One study [1] in 117 people with diabetes shows that increased consumption of foods high in soluble dietary fiber, such as persimmons, can help lower cholesterol, reduce blood sugar levels, and keep your digestive system healthy.
Just keep tracking the amount of persimmon you eat, as too much consumption will eventually affect blood glucose levels.
Persimmon contains a high amount of Vitamin C; it falls in the range of the top 11% of foods as a source of Vitamin C.
Another study [2] of 31 people (26 men and five women) with type 2 diabetes who intake 500 mg of Vitamin C shows the beneficial effect of Vitamin C on blood sugar levels. For 98% of participants, post-meal blood sugar levels were significantly lower following four months of Vitamin C supplementation.
Persimmons are high in a natural antioxidant called ellagic acid. According to the study, ellagic acid is a promising treatment for chronic diseases, particularly ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Ellagic acid appears to have anti-diabetic activity via its action on pancreatic -cells, stimulating insulin secretion and decreasing glucose intolerance [3].
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4950069/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30394006/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27671829/
