Can diabetic patients eat pumpkin every day?
Disease description:
My grandfather loves eating pumpkin and wants to have it almost every day. However, he has diabetes. I would like to ask, is it okay for diabetic patients to eat pumpkin every day?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
It is beneficial for diabetic patients to consume pumpkin in moderation, but it is not recommended to eat it every day.
Pumpkin is rich in nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, which can offer certain benefits to individuals with diabetes. The high fiber content in pumpkin helps delay the absorption of sugar from food in the gastrointestinal tract, thus stabilizing blood glucose levels and preventing sharp spikes in post-meal blood sugar. Moreover, antioxidants in pumpkin, such as beta-carotene and vitamin C, can help reduce oxidative stress, protect vascular health, and lower the risk of diabetes-related complications. However, although pumpkin has these benefits, it also contains a certain amount of carbohydrates and sugars, and excessive consumption may increase gastrointestinal burden and interfere with post-meal blood glucose control.
Therefore, it is recommended that diabetic patients include pumpkin in their diet in moderation and strictly control the portion size. At the same time, it should be noted that pumpkin does not directly lower blood sugar; rather, its relatively low carbohydrate content and abundant dietary fiber help slow down the rate of sugar absorption.
