Being a diabetic it is really complicated to manage it effectively for this you need to have a well-balanced and healthy diet. You are therefore also wary as to what should you eat and what you should not eat when you are diabetic because any access consumption may rise up your blood glucose level.

In this article, we analyze the effect of eating carrots on the people who suffer from diabetes. So, come and join us to analyze can a diabetic patient eat carrot or not?

Benefits of Eating Carrot for Diabetic Patients

Following are some of the advantages which you get when you include carrots in your diabetic diet:

• Carrots are a high source of several antioxidants. These antioxidants play a great role in helping to prevent diabetes, particularly type 2. The antioxidants, along with vitamin A helps to protect the diabetes patients from various heart-related conditions.
• Carrots also play an important role in helping you lose weight. Losing weight, as you know, forms an important part of overall diabetes management.
• Although carrot is known to contain more sugar than some of the other vegetables, it is safe enough to be included in the diet.
• Carrots are also known to be a rich source of fiber. Fiber, as we know, play an important role in dealing with several complications which diabetes can cause.
• Besides, this vegetable is abundant in vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, potassium, manganese, as well as other vitamins and nutrients.
• Carotenoids present in the carrots expose you to lesser risks of contracting cardiovascular conditions.
• The soluble fiber which is present in abundance in carrots goes a long way in regulating the levels of bad cholesterol in the body.
• Although often believed that eating carrots can increase the blood glucose levels, several studies have also shown that when you include the vegetable in your diet and the quantity is within the recommended levels, you, in fact, can benefit from reduced levels of blood glucose.
• Another complication which diabetes patients face is blurred vision mainly caused due to high blood sugar. The presence of vitamin A in the vegetable helps in promoting better vision to the people who suffer from diabetes.

Thus, the above are some of the benefits provided by carrots if you happen to be someone who has diabetes. Having said that, there are a few risks associated with the eating of carrots which you should be aware of:

Disadvantages of Eating Carrots for Diabetic Patients

The following are some of the disadvantages of eating carrots in diabetes:

• Carrots are known to be high in the natural sugar content which is not a very good news for the diabetic patients
• The glycemic index is on the higher side. It is 97. This is not something which a diabetes patient will prefer.
• Another major study has suggested that carrots contain vitamin E which has traces of gamma tocopherol. There are chances that this compound can, in fact, increase the risks of contracting type 2 diabetes.

The studies with respect to the effects of carrots on the diabetes patients are still going on. However, you need to be aware of the above-mentioned risks as a diabetes patient.

Guidelines to Follow When You Include Carrots in Your Diabetic Diet

If you are diabetic and want to enjoy eating carrots, you will have to follow the guidelines which are mentioned below:

• When you cook carrot, the sugar in the vegetable caramelizes which further increases the glycemic index. Roasting also has the same effect. You should steam the carrots preferably.
• Besides, you should remember that you should avoid carrot juice as well. The juice of the vegetable gets converted into glucose very easily, which in turn, increases the levels of blood glucose levels.
• You can include carrots in salads, as a vegetable and also in making rice and in other preparations.
• Finally, as is true in the case of other vegetables, you should not eat too many carrots in your day. You should take an expert’s advice and eat only the recommended quantity.

We hope that the above article has been helpful in improving your understanding of the relationship that exists between diabetes and the orange colored vegetable. There cannot be a direct answer to the question “Is Carrots Good for Diabetes Patients?” as there are both pros and cons of the vegetable for those who are diabetic. As is clear from above, you can include the vegetable in your diet as long as your doctor does not suggest you otherwise and if you follow the guidelines.