When it comes to diabetes you will start screening every food item for its sugar content. Bananas are sweet so the question”is banana good for diabetes” needs some deeper understanding of how sweet good items generally and bananas specifically affect Diabetes.
There are two aspects of bananas that matter most in deciding whether you would eat banana or not.
One is the size of the banana and the other is the ripe condition of the banana.
Let us understand each one in isolation and see it's combined effect on blood sugar levels and diabetes.
Does Size of Banana Matter for Diabetes?
Yes it does. Bananas contain . carbohydrates. So larger the size, higher is the carbohydrate content.
Carbohydrates produce sugar. So more carbohydrates more sugar.
Does Overripe Banana Contains More Sugar?
Yes, the overripe contains a much higher level of sugar than a green banana.
Everyone with diabetes must remain consciousness of the carbohydrate content they consume every time
Spikes of sugar in your blood is not a good thing for diabetes patients.
Since bananas are both high in carbs and sugar which can potentially raise blood sugar levels.
But sugar and carbs level are not the only deciding factor as to whether to eat banana or not. There are other factors and nutrients that are equally important for the food products suitability for diabetes patients. These other nutrients are discussed later, but before that learn...
How Sugar is Managed by the Body?
It is important to understand how raised blood sugar levels are dealt with by the body of a non diabetic person as compared to diabetic person.
When blood sugar levels of a non-diabetes person rises the body produces insulin to move out sugar from the blood to store in the cells where it belongs.
Whereas in case of a diabetes person the sugar remains in the blood either due to the body not being able to produce sufficient insulin or the insulin in not able to transport the sugar to cells due to insulin resistance.
So if the sugar levels in the blood remain constantly high in the blood then complications begin.
Since bananas have high carbs and high sugar content, it appears that diabetes patients shouldn't eat bananas.
The logic makes sense until we understand the impact of other nutrients of banana on the sugar levels.
The other important elements of banana are fiber and potassium that have a positive impact on the body.
Fiber reduces absorption of carbs by slowing down the digestive mechanism.
So the fiber in banana takes care of carbs by slowing down the digestion. As a result less sugar is released in the blood sugar.
So, if you have diabetes and you eat a banana then eat a small banana and hard just ripe banana rather than overripe banana.
The green banana has more restart starch than the ripe banana.
Resistant starch also acts like fiber to slow down digestion. This does not the sugar levels in the blood
So if you have diabetes then eat a small hard banana just ripe at a time to avoid sugar spikes.
You should also monitor your sugar levels after eating bananas to ensure that you are on the right tract. Absorption of carbs happens differently in different bodies.
So the answer to the question 'is banana good for Diabetes’ is yes banana is good for diabetes if you eat a small banana or a potion of just ripe banana and avoid eating overripe bananas.