Can a diabetic eat Blackberries?
Yes, a diabetic can eat blackberries as part of a balanced diabetic meal. Blackberries have a low glycaemic index (GI) of 25 and do not cause any blood sugar spikes. Moreover, blackberries provide you with good amount of fibre, antioxidants and vitamins. For example, 100 gm blackberries contain about 5.3 gm fibre. So, a diabetic can benefit from eating moderate portions of blackberries.
In case you want to monitor blood sugar levels after eating blackberries, you can do so. I find this blood glucose meter very handy to check my blood sugar levels at home. Monitoring my blood sugar levels regularly helps me understand how various foods affect my blood sugar levels.
Are blackberries high in calories or fat?
No, blackberries are not high in calories. For example, 1 cup blackberries contain about 62 calories and just about 1 gm fat. This means a diabetic can eat a cup or half of blackberries for a snack and not worry about weight gain at all.
Are blackberries high in sugar or carbohydrates?
One cup of blackberries gives you about 7 gm sugar. But this being natural sugar, you need not feel guilty about eating blackberries. A cup of blackberries also has just about 14 gm carbohydrates.
Why are blackberries good for a diabetic?
A diabetic can benefit in many ways from eating blackberries. Blackberries are high in nutrition, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants etc. Some minerals like potassium, magnesium and calcium are abundant in blackberries. Similarly, blackberries are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and some B vitamins too. Anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants available in blackberries are also beneficial for a diabetic.
With rich nutrients and low calories, blackberries can really help boost immunity and lose weight. Blackberries are also high in polyphenols. Polyphenols help to protect liver cells from damage. Thus, experts consider blackberries as one of the best fruits for diabetics.