Short Answer: Persimmon is good for diabetes in moderation. Because it has fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin A, which can benefit diabetes, but also sugars, carbohydrates, and potassium, which can raise blood sugar levels and cause complications.
Diabetes is a condition that affects your blood sugar levels and how your body uses insulin.
In diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose, a type of sugar, enter your cells for energy.
Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in your blood, causing high blood sugar levels.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye problems.
One of the key factors in managing diabetes is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar levels, which can impact your diabetes symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage diabetes, you should consume fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoid refined carbohydrates and added sugars like white bread, candy, and soda.
Now, persimmon is a sweet, orange-colored fruit that is native to Asia and has a honey-like flavor.
People usually eat persimmons fresh, dried, or cooked in various dishes.
Persimmon is good for diabetes because it contains fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin A.
One 2 1/2″ diameter Japanese persimmon (168g) provides 6 grams of fiber, which is 24% of your daily needs1.
Fiber can help slow down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, preventing blood sugar spikes.
Antioxidants can help protect your cells from oxidative stress, which is linked to diabetes complications.
Vitamin A can help support your immune system and vision, which can be affected by diabetes.
However, persimmon also contains natural sugars, which can raise your blood sugar levels if you eat too much.
One 2 1/2″ diameter Japanese persimmon (168g) provides 21 grams of sugars, which is 42% of your daily needs1.
Sugars can increase your calorie intake and contribute to weight gain, which can worsen diabetes.
Furthermore, persimmon is a fruit and fruits are high in carbohydrates, which can affect your blood sugar levels.
One 2 1/2″ diameter Japanese persimmon (168g) provides 31 grams of carbohydrates, which is 10% of your daily needs1.
Carbohydrates are the main source of glucose in your diet and need to be counted and balanced with insulin or other diabetes medications.
That’s why I suggest you limit your persimmon intake to avoid blood sugar spikes and weight gain.
Stick to one small persimmon (about 100 grams) per day and include it in your carbohydrate allowance.
More than that can cause high blood sugar levels and increase your risk of diabetes complications.
Also, you shouldn’t eat persimmon if you have kidney disease due to diabetes to prevent high potassium levels.
Because persimmon is high in potassium, which can build up in your blood if your kidneys are not working well.
One 2 1/2″ diameter Japanese persimmon (168g) provides 270 milligrams of potassium, which is 6% of your daily needs1.
High potassium levels can cause irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, and even cardiac arrest.
You can buy fresh persimmons in your local market or order them online.
Always choose ripe, soft, and blemish-free persimmons.
Because unripe, hard, and bruised persimmons can be astringent and bitter, and may contain more tannins, which can interfere with the absorption of iron and other minerals.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to six months.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing diabetes effectively.
I always recommend my diabetes patients to follow a diabetes-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
