The best types of dates for diabetics

Although dates can be eaten by diabetics, there is an advantage for some types of dates over others, because they have a lower glycemic index than others. A study published in Nutrition Journal in 2011, measured the glycemic index of five types of dates, namely; Farad, Lulu, Bu Maan, Khalas, and Dabbas. It was noted that the glycemic index of these five types of dates is low, and therefore they can be consumed by diabetics within a healthy balanced diet, as they do not release glucose in large quantities in the blood after eating. Noting that foods with a low glycemic index help to raise blood glucose slowly in the body, unlike foods with a high glycemic index that increase blood glucose quickly, so eating foods with a low glycemic index is better for diabetics when consumed in moderation, ie. No more than 1-2 dates per day, and it is preferable to consult a doctor or a nutritionist for the best choices of balanced and healthy foods.

Benefits of dates for diabetics

Dates are a rich source of dietary fiber, which helps slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream in the body; which contributes to discouraging high blood sugar, and dietary fiber is necessary to maintain a healthy digestive system, as it helps feed beneficial gut bacteria to maintain a healthy body. In addition, dates contain compounds that have antioxidant properties, such as polyphenols, which may be beneficial. For people with diabetes, it may help reduce inflammation in the body, which may play a role in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders. It is worth noting that dates are a rich source of vitamins and important minerals, as they contain high levels of selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium, in addition to moderate amounts of manganese, iron, phosphorous, and calcium.

Dates side effects

The degree of safety of dates

The fruit of dates is often considered safe for most people, when consumed in the quantities found in food, but there is no information available about the safety of consuming dates in large quantities, such as those found in extracts, or the side effects of that. It is safe to eat dates in the quantities found in food by pregnant and lactating women, but information is still insufficient about the safety of using dates in large quantities, such as those found in extracts; Whether by eating it or putting it on the skin, pregnant and lactating women are advised to avoid taking high doses of dates, and to stick to the quantities in food.

Contraindications to the use of dates

People who suffer from some health conditions should be careful when eating dates. Among these cases, we mention the following:

Those who are overweight, consuming dates in large quantities may cause an increase in weight, due to their high calorie content, so it is recommended to eat dates in moderation.

Kidney patients: Dates contain potassium, so kidney patients should beware of eating dates, and the need to obtain a doctor’s advice regarding the amount of potassium allowed to be consumed daily.

People who suffer from allergies Dried dates contain sulfites, which may cause allergic reactions in some people. Therefore, attention should be paid to the appearance of any allergy symptoms when eating dates and we mention the following:

• · Stomach pain.
• · bloating
• · Diarrhea.
• · Skin rash.

Asthma patients the sulfites in dates may exacerbate the symptoms of difficulty breathing and wheezing in asthmatic patients.

Sugar content in dates

One hundred grams of dates includes two hundred and seventy calories, enough to provide the body with energy and vitality, in addition to many nutrients necessary to maintain its health, as it contains a high percentage of iron and potassium, in addition to calcium, magnesium and other mineral salts, which constitute A rate of 1.32%.

Except for the large amounts of fiber, proteins, and multivitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin C, water occupies more than a third of the components of dates, but the largest proportion of the components of dates are carbohydrates and sugars, which constitute more than 70% of a single date grain. The percentage of sugars may vary from one date to another, depending on the type of dates and the environmental conditions in which they were grown, which affect the level of moisture in it, in addition to other factors. It is worth noting that all types of dates usually contain three or less types of sugar, which are: glucose and fructose in addition to sucrose.

Types of dates and the percentage of sugar

Here are some examples of the types of dates, and the percentages of sugar they contain:

· Medjool dates: contain 34.33% of fructose, 27.5% of glucose, 0.3% of sucrose. Ajwa dates: contain 25.6% of fructose, 34.5% of glucose, in addition to 0.5% of sucrose.

· Khalas dates: 34.97 fructose, 31.94 glucose, and does not contain any percentage of sucrose, which is suitable for diabetic patients, in addition to Tamarind maktoumi, and Qattara dates.

· Red sugar dates: 11.36% fructose, 14.96% glucose, 40.41% sucrose. It is worth noting that this type of sugar is not suitable for diabetics, because it contains a high percentage of sucrose, like the yellow sugar dates and Nabta Ali dates.

Can diabetics eat dates?

People with diabetes should follow a special diet prescribed by the doctor, which contributes to maintaining their blood sugar level within the normal range, and in fact, people with diabetes can eat dates in moderation while informing the doctor of that, paying attention to the size of the dates That a person eats as it differs from one type to another, and therefore the appropriate amount for them is determined according to the size.