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Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which a person’s sugar levels in the blood are high. It can be caused due to the body producing less amounts of insulin or when the cells no longer respond to the insulin that is produced by the body. Diabetes (apart from gestational diabetes) is a chronic illness that cannot be cured as such; the only way to treat it is to manage the disease by monitoring sugar levels.
Diabetes management can be achieved with appropriate medication, diet, and exercise, with diet playing a crucial role. In this article, we discuss the relationship between carrots and diabetes.
Carrot juice for diabetes
With a controlled diet, sugar patients (or diabetes patients) can lead healthy, strong and normal lives.
Although most of the foods that diabetics consume are similar to those of who do not have diabetes, diabetics need to pay close attention to the glycemic index of foods. Foods with a high glycemic index need to be avoided.
While some studies suggest that carrot juice mixed with beet juice is good for diabetic persons, other schools of thought dispute this theory, suggesting that carrots/carrot juice should be avoided.
Here’s why. It is said that the glycemic index for sugar and carrots are the same, which is very high. The only difference is that sugar results in a sudden increase in sugar levels in the blood, while carrots take longer to, and so the spike in sugar levels is not sudden.
While enough study has still not been done to confirm either theory, it is generally accepted that carrot juice does benefit diabetics, albeit it should not be consumed in excess.
Why are carrots good?
Carrots are rich in other nutrients such as vitamins A, B and C, calcium, and potassium. In fact, carrots are often considered as a ‘poor man’s ginseng’, wherein its benefits outweigh its disadvantages.
As mentioned above, diabetics can consume carrot juice mixed with beet juice.
Carrot juice can also be blended with string beans and Brussels sprouts as they contain natural forms of insulin, which aid pancreatic function. Carrot juice blended with lemon juice is also highly beneficial as it improves circulation. Moreover, carrots are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, which are extremely good for those with diabetes as they help keep the body strong, improve immunity, and keep other diabetes-related illnesses at bay.
Side effects
As mentioned earlier, carrots have a glycemic index. This is means that too much carrot can result in a sugar spike. It is best to consult a doctor before making drastic changes to your diet.
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