Can Diabetes Patients Eat Bananas? Check What Expert Has To Say

The growing cases of diabetes in the country are a matter of concern. India is often referred to as the “diabetes capital of the world” due to the high prevalence of diabetes among its population. Several factors contribute to the widespread occurrence of diabetes in India, including genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, urbanisation and an ageing population. We all know that diabetes patients have strict dietary limitations and many food products are restricted for them. However, there is often some confusion about what they can eat or what not. Today we will talk about whether bananas are prohibited for diabetes patients.

Bananas are rich in nutrients and consuming them provides many health benefits. Banana is a very sweet fruit, due to which diabetic patients start avoiding it. People think that consuming bananas can increase the sugar level of diabetic patients rapidly, whereas many people consider bananas to be beneficial for diabetic patients. Now the question is can diabetic patients eat bananas? If yes, then how many bananas can be considered safe to eat daily? Let us know about this from a certified dietician. Kamini Sinha, founder and dietician of Diet Mantra Clinic, Noida, told News18 that diabetic patients can eat all fruits in small quantities. Diabetes patients can eat bananas in small quantities. This will benefit their health, but they need to take precautions.

Bananas are sweet and contain a lot of carbs. Despite this, the glycemic index of bananas is low, due to which it is not harmful for diabetic patients. Bananas contain a good amount of fibre, which does not allow sugar to increase rapidly. According to Kamini Sinha, diabetes patients can eat one medium-sized banana daily.

However, only those people who have blood sugar control should eat bananas. People suffering from blood sugar fluctuations should avoid bananas. Such people can take advice from a dietitian or doctor regarding whether they should eat bananas or not.

According to the dietician, consuming raw bananas can be more beneficial for diabetes patients than ripe bananas. Raw bananas contain resistant starch that does not spike blood sugar and may improve long-term blood sugar management.