Can people with high blood sugar consume Ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin)?

Individuals with elevated blood glucose levels constitute a special population in our daily lives, and dietary considerations are particularly important for them. Persistently high blood glucose can lead to diabetes; therefore, individuals with hyperglycemia must pay close attention to dietary management. So, can people with high blood glucose consume donkey-hide gelatin (ejiao)?

Can individuals with high blood glucose consume donkey-hide gelatin (ejiao)?

Whether individuals with high blood glucose can consume ejiao depends on their individual constitution. Ejiao is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb characterized by a sweet and warm nature. Its primary therapeutic actions include nourishing the blood, moistening dryness, and tonifying yin and blood. Whether diabetic patients may consume ejiao requires careful differential diagnosis. Diabetic patients frequently present symptoms of dryness, heat, and dual deficiency of qi and yin; ejiao should be avoided in such cases. However, in later stages of diabetes—when patients experience cold extremities or other cold-type symptoms indicative of blood deficiency—small amounts of ejiao may be appropriate. Nevertheless, ejiao contains a certain amount of sugar, and its glycemic index is not negligible; thus, consuming ejiao may cause a transient rise in blood glucose levels. Consequently, ejiao is generally not recommended for diabetic patients—especially not in large quantities.

Because dietary control is essential for diabetic patients, and because ejiao is made from donkey hide and has a strong flavor, sugar is often added during processing. However, due to strict dietary restrictions, diabetic patients must avoid added sugars. Thus, only plain (unsweetened) ejiao—not sugar-containing ejiao-based confections such as ejiao cakes—may be consumed by diabetic patients.

Patients should adopt a pattern of eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day and avoid overeating or binge eating. Regular, moderate physical exercise is also recommended, as it helps lower blood glucose levels and enhances immune function. We hope this information is helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!