Can people with diabetes eat watermelon?

Written by Li Zheng
Nutrition Science
Updated on January 07, 2025
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People with diabetes should avoid watermelon as it contains a high amount of sugar, which might exacerbate their condition and lead to complications, adversely affecting their health. Many cases of diabetes are associated with poor dietary habits, such as frequently consuming high-sugar and fried foods, which can lead to symptoms like excessive eating, drinking, urination, and weight loss. For those with mild symptoms, dietary therapy can help alleviate symptoms by adopting a low-salt and low-fat diet, coupled with aerobic exercises to aid recovery. If treatment results are not satisfactory, it may be necessary to take hypoglycemic drugs under a doctor's guidance. It is also important to develop a habit of regularly monitoring blood sugar levels to keep them within a normal range. During stable periods of the condition, choosing fruits with lower sugar content, such as figs, apples, or grapefruit, is advisable.

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What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes, also known as pregnancy-induced diabetes, generally refers to a condition diagnosed during pregnancy where varying degrees of high blood sugar levels are detected for the first time. This includes some cases where glucose intolerance or diabetes was undiagnosed before the pregnancy. Most patients see their blood sugar levels return to normal after delivery, but regardless of whether the high blood sugar normalizes post-pregnancy, it is considered gestational diabetes. Currently, the diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes include a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test. If the fasting blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, the blood glucose level after one hour is greater than or equal to 10.0 mmol/L, and the blood glucose level after 120 minutes is greater than or equal to 8.5 mmol/L, then gestational diabetes can be diagnosed.

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Type 2 diabetes daily diet

Type II diabetes requires careful daily dietary considerations. First, meals should be regular and moderate in portion; overeating is to be avoided. Second, ideally consume only three meals a day and avoid late-night snacks, which is a habit that many people have but is inadvisable. Third, the amount of carbohydrates per meal should be controlled; about 100 grams of staple food per meal is sufficient for those who perform moderate physical labor and do not engage in heavy physical activities. Fourth, sweet foods like pastries and cakes, which are high in sugar, should be completely avoided. Fifth, foods like porridge and glutinous rice, which have a high glycemic index, are not recommended. Lastly, very sweet fruits such as lychees, longans, durians, grapes, and bananas are too sugary and not suitable for consumption.

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What is gestational diabetes like?

Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that appears during pregnancy, or is detected during pregnancy, or is an abnormal glucose tolerance of any degree. Gestational diabetes affects both the pregnant mother and the fetus. Although the mortality rate of pregnant women with gestational diabetes has significantly decreased, complications are still quite common. It may increase the rate of spontaneous miscarriages and preterm births for fetuses. Secondly, it can cause fetal or neonatal death, and intrauterine growth retardation. Thirdly, it leads to excessive amniotic fluid and macrosomia, and may result in neonatal polycythemia, fetal malformations, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, as well as neonatal hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. For the mother, it can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, infections during pregnancy or childbirth, and in severe cases, diabetic ketoacidosis.

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Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes

The typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes are referred to as "three excesses and one deficiency." The three excesses include excessive thirst and dry mouth, increased appetite with frequent hunger, and increased urination. The one deficiency refers to weight loss; these are the more typical symptoms. Some patients might often find out about their elevated blood sugar during routine health checks at work. Others may seek medical advice due to issues like skin itchiness or wounds that heal poorly after injury. Some might mainly experience numbness in their hands and feet, or blurred vision among other symptoms.

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Gestational diabetes symptoms

Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormal glucose tolerance that occurs during pregnancy, typically characterized by mild, asymptomatic elevated blood sugar levels without obvious symptoms such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. However, when blood sugar levels are high, symptoms typical of diabetes such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination may occur. If excessive amniotic fluid, a large fetus, or recurrent infections of the external genitalia occur during pregnancy, it is important to be vigilant for the presence of diabetes. It is generally recommended that patients undergo the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) during the mid-stage of pregnancy to confirm whether gestational diabetes is present. Women's blood sugar levels generally return to normal after childbirth, but the risk of developing diabetes later increases significantly. Therefore, patients with gestational diabetes should be screened for diabetes 6-12 weeks postpartum and monitored over the long term.