Recently I visited a friend's home in different town. Friend is a type II diabetic since few years, but has the blood sugar under control using medicine and exercise. I found few banana in there, but no one was eating. On enquiry it became clear to me that their doctor advised them not to eat banana.
Bananas are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, but they do contain carbohydrates. In fact, all fruit has some carbohydrate, so you need to count them in your diabetes meal plan. Nutrition offered by banana are better absorbed by body than the supplements they are prescribed. Most importantly this is cost effective with much more benefit than commercial vitamin supplement.
I told them that in order to intake banana, become familiar with portion sizes and the number of carbohydrates in each.
Bananas vary quite a bit in size, so counting the carbohydrates that they provide can be difficult.
Below are some estimates for different sizes.
Extra small banana (6 inches long or less) — 18.5 grams of carbohydrate
Small banana (about 6-6 7/8 inches long) — 23 grams of carbohydrate
Medium banana (7-7 7/8 inches long) — 27 grams of carbohydrate
Large banana (8-8 7/8 inches long) — 31 grams of carbohydrate
Extra large banana (9 inches or longer) — 35 grams of carbohydrate
Be aware that blood glucose responses can vary from person to person. Be aware that you may need to make adjustments the portion size you eat depending on your how your blood glucose responds to eating bananas or other types of fruit.
Since patients believe their doctors, it is the responsibility of the doctors to be aware of the facts before recommending.
Bananas are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, but they do contain carbohydrates. In fact, all fruit has some carbohydrate, so you need to count them in your diabetes meal plan. Nutrition offered by banana are better absorbed by body than the supplements they are prescribed. Most importantly this is cost effective with much more benefit than commercial vitamin supplement.
I told them that in order to intake banana, become familiar with portion sizes and the number of carbohydrates in each.
Bananas vary quite a bit in size, so counting the carbohydrates that they provide can be difficult.
Below are some estimates for different sizes.
Extra small banana (6 inches long or less) — 18.5 grams of carbohydrate
Small banana (about 6-6 7/8 inches long) — 23 grams of carbohydrate
Medium banana (7-7 7/8 inches long) — 27 grams of carbohydrate
Large banana (8-8 7/8 inches long) — 31 grams of carbohydrate
Extra large banana (9 inches or longer) — 35 grams of carbohydrate
Be aware that blood glucose responses can vary from person to person. Be aware that you may need to make adjustments the portion size you eat depending on your how your blood glucose responds to eating bananas or other types of fruit.
Since patients believe their doctors, it is the responsibility of the doctors to be aware of the facts before recommending.
