Can people with diabetes eat watermelon?

Written by Li Zheng
Nutrition Science
Updated on January 07, 2025
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People with diabetes should avoid watermelon as it contains a high amount of sugar, which might exacerbate their condition and lead to complications, adversely affecting their health. Many cases of diabetes are associated with poor dietary habits, such as frequently consuming high-sugar and fried foods, which can lead to symptoms like excessive eating, drinking, urination, and weight loss. For those with mild symptoms, dietary therapy can help alleviate symptoms by adopting a low-salt and low-fat diet, coupled with aerobic exercises to aid recovery. If treatment results are not satisfactory, it may be necessary to take hypoglycemic drugs under a doctor's guidance. It is also important to develop a habit of regularly monitoring blood sugar levels to keep them within a normal range. During stable periods of the condition, choosing fruits with lower sugar content, such as figs, apples, or grapefruit, is advisable.

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For patients with diabetic foot ulcers, first, their diet should control blood sugar. Foods with a high glycemic index like porridge, glutinous rice, and rice noodle rolls should be avoided. Additionally, sweet foods are also off-limits; it's important for meals to be regular and measured. Second, as patients with diabetic foot ulcers need nutrients for wound healing, they can eat foods high in protein such as eggs, fish, fish soup, and lean meats to promote wound healing. Third, if the patient also has high blood lipids, it's advisable to maintain a light diet and avoid greasy foods.

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How long does prediabetes take to turn into diabetes?

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Is frequent urination diabetes?

If the urine output exceeds 2500 mL in 24 hours, this condition is called polyuria. There are many causes of polyuria; diabetes is just one of them. Additionally, physiological causes are also seen, such as eating a large amount of fruits that have a diuretic effect, like watermelon, or drinking a lot of water previously. This is referred to as physiological polyuria and does not require special treatment. Pathological causes, apart from diabetes, also include diabetes insipidus or electrolyte disturbances. For instance, long-term hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, or increased aldosterone can all lead to polyuria. It is advisable to promptly visit the urology department of a hospital for tests such as blood glucose levels, routine urine tests, and endocrine examinations to understand the causes of polyuria, and to determine whether it is caused by diabetes.

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How to reduce sugar in a diabetic diet?

Dietary control is the most important method of treatment for diabetes. If dietary control is improper, all hypoglycemic drugs, including insulin, will not be very effective, and the focus of dietary management in diabetes is to control the intake of carbohydrates. Our Chinese diet is primarily based on carbohydrates like rice. Mainly, we control the amount of rice consumed, with each meal (lunch and dinner) consisting of about 100 to 200 grams of rice. This is complemented by plenty of vegetables and a certain amount of lean meat to enhance satiety. By controlling the intake of carbohydrates in our daily lives, blood sugar levels can drop significantly.