Can people with diabetes drink tea made from daylily flowers and Albizia julibrissin flowers?

Apr 28, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Pan Yongyuan
Introduction
People with diabetes can consume daylily flowers (Hemerocallis citrina), typically in their dried form. Dried daylilies contain a small amount of carbohydrates. As a vegetable, daylilies are low in sugar and calories, and thus do not cause rapid or excessive blood glucose elevation. Albizia julibrissin flowers can be brewed as tea and safely consumed by individuals with diabetes. This tea has diuretic and anti-edema properties and generally does not raise blood glucose levels; it may even serve as an adjunctive aid in lowering blood glucose.

In daily life, many people suffer from diabetes, which causes significant harm to their physical health and severely impacts their quality of life and work performance. Diabetic patients must carefully manage their diet and cannot eat freely; however, adequate caloric intake and comprehensive nutrition remain equally essential for them. So, can diabetic patients safely consume a tea made from daylily flowers (Huanghua Cai) and silk tree flowers (Hehuan Hua)?

Can diabetic patients drink tea made from daylily flowers and silk tree flowers?

Diabetic patients may consume daylily flowers—typically in dried form—which contain only trace amounts of carbohydrates. Daylilies are generally classified as vegetables and have relatively low sugar and caloric content; thus, they are unlikely to cause rapid or excessive spikes in blood glucose levels. Silk tree flower tea is also safe for diabetic patients to drink regularly. It possesses diuretic and anti-edema properties and typically does not elevate blood glucose; instead, it may serve as an adjunctive aid in lowering blood sugar. Diabetes is often caused by chronically elevated blood glucose levels, frequently associated with long-term consumption of high-sugar diets, leading to reduced insulin secretion. Common symptoms include polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyphagia (excessive hunger), and polyuria (frequent urination). Diabetes is a chronic condition treatable with oral hypoglycemic agents, and dietary management should emphasize low-sugar foods.

When preparing braised dishes or boiling noodles, diabetic patients may add daylily flowers. In such cases, the primary source of dietary sugar is not the daylily flowers themselves but rather the starch in the noodles and other accompanying ingredients—starch contains significantly more digestible carbohydrate than daylily flowers do. Therefore, consuming daylily flowers poses minimal impact on blood glucose control in diabetic patients.

Patients should adhere to a light, low-sodium, low-sugar diet, maintain adequate hydration, balance food intake with physical activity, and follow prescribed medication regimens to achieve or sustain a healthy body weight. We hope this information proves helpful to you!