The appetizing fruits of melon are literally capable of bringing happiness to a person – due to the special compounds that make up their composition, and in particular, a substance called choline.
The aromatic delicacy is famous not only for its taste but also for a number of medicinal properties, thanks to which melon is successfully used in traditional medicine.
One of the disorders of the metabolic functions of the body is diabetes mellitus. With an abundance of unhealthy food, this disease affects not only elderly patients but also young people.
In this article, you will learn whether or not it is possible to consume cantaloupe for two types of diabetes and whether this product will alleviate or worsen the condition of patients.
Melon Pulp Composition
To assess the beneficial and harmful properties of melon, one should understand the composition of the edible part of the fruit. There are several varieties of melons on the Russian market:
- Collective farmer: has a classic even rounded shape with a thin yellow skin and a whitish-yellow pulp
- Torpedo: elongated oval shape with a network of cracks on pale yellow skin
- Pineapple melon: has an oval shape and yellow-orange skin with cracks
- Ethiopian: has oval-rounded fruits with rough skin, the longitudinal veins divide them into slices, the color of the pulp is white.
There are rare exotic varieties of Vietnamese melon, mouse, and horned melon, called Kiwano. The nutrient content of the pulp varies depending on the variety and growing conditions. Average indicators for Kolkhoznitsa and Kantalupa varieties are presented in the table.
| Nutritional indicator | Quantity per 100 g of collective farmer melon pulp | Quantity per 100 g of cantaloupe melon pulp |
| Calorie content | 35 kcal | 34 kcal |
| Protein | 0.6 g | 0.84 g |
| Fats | 0.3 g | 0.19 g |
| Alimentary fiber | 0.9 g | 0.9 g |
| Starch | 0.1 g | 0.03 g |
| Sucrose | 5.9 grams | 4.35 grams |
| Glucose | 1.1 g | 1.54 grams |
| Fructose | 2 g | 1.87 grams |
| Maltose | – | 0.04 g |
| Galactose | – | 0.06 g |
| Total carbohydrate content | 8.3 g | 8.16 grams |
| Water | 90 grams | 90.15 grams |
| Vitamin A | 33 μg | 169 μg |
| Beta carotene | 400 mcg | Mcg 2020 |
| Vitamin E | 0.1 mg | 0.05 mg |
| Vitamin C | 20 mg | 36.7 mg |
| Vitamin K | – | 2.5 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.04 mg | 0.04 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.04 mg | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 0.23 mg | 0.11 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.06 mg | 0.07 mg |
| Vitamin B9 | 6 μg | 21 μg |
| Vitamin PP | 0.9 mg | 1.5 mg |
| Choline | – | 7.6 mg |
| Phytosterols | – | 10 mg |
| Potassium | 118 mg | 267 mg |
| Calcium | 16 mg | 9 mg |
| Magnesium | 13 mg | 12 mg |
| Sodium | 32 mg | 16 mg |
| Sulfur | 10 mg | – |
| Phosphorus | 12 mg | 15 mg |
| Chlorine | 50 mg | – |
| The iron | 1 mg | 0.21 mg |
| Iodine | 2 μg | – |
| Cobalt | 2 μg | – |
| Manganese | 0.04 mg | 0.04 mg |
| Copper | 0.05 mg | 0.04 mg |
| Fluorine | 20 mcg | 1 μg |
| Zinc | 0.09 mg | 0.18 mg |
| Selenium | – | 0.4 μg |
In diabetes, it is important to get enough zinc into the body. The highest concentration of this trace element is found in the fruits of the Cantalupa variety.
When asked if melon raises blood sugar, the answer is unequivocal – yes. The pulp of ripe fruits of all varieties contains 6 to 10 g of simple carbohydrates per 100 g of edible part.
Simple carbohydrates are represented by sucrose, glucose, and fructose. The content of these substances directly affects the glycemic index of the products.
For type 2 diabetics, endocrinologists and nutritionists recommend:
- Include in the diet foods with a glycemic index of 55 and less without restrictions;
- With an average (56-69 units) – use in moderation;
- With high (from 70 and over) – exclude.
Glycemic index of melon pulp – 65 units therefore it is recommended to limit the consumption of this fruit in diabetes.
Health Benefits of Cantaloupe
Biologically active substances contained in the melon pulp have a number of positive effects on the human body:
- Easily digestible carbohydrates help the nervous system recover from stress, operations, and injuries;
- Vitamins A and E help rejuvenate and renew skin cells;
- Beta-carotene restores twilight vision;
- Water (90-92% in the composition) helps to withstand heat in summer, protects against dehydration;
- Vitamin C supports the immune system, participates in the synthesis of blood enzymes and collagen – the building block of connective tissue protein;
- Vitamin K is responsible for blood clotting;
- Vitamins PP and group B normalize metabolism, restore the functions of the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, and circulatory systems;
- Choline stimulates the production of serotonin, a pleasure hormone that reduces stress and tension;
- Phytosterols reduce blood cholesterol levels; potassium and magnesium relax nervously and muscle tissue;
- Calcium – a structural component of tooth enamel and bone tissue, which is also necessary for the contractile function of muscle fibers and blood clotting;
- Sulfur, selenium, and phosphorus promote hair and nail growth, improve skin color;
- Iron, copper, cobalt, and manganese are involved in the synthesis of blood cells, stimulate the protective function of the liver, help the body to recover from poisoning;
- Zinc improves the synthesis of insulin and a number of other active enzymes;
- Iodine – a structural component of the thyroid hormones of the thyroid gland, regulates metabolic processes.
Melon pulp is a low-calorie product, despite its high content of simple carbohydrates. In limited quantities, it is included in fat-burning diets, but it is not recommended for patients with grade 2 and 3 obesity, as the phytosterols in the melon pulp can make atherosclerosis worse.
Consumption of melon will relieve the condition of patients with anemia and osteoporosis, stress, and trauma. It is useful to use this product for digestive tract problems, cystitis, bleeding disorders. Zinc in melon pulp prevents the development of diabetes mellitus, but with an already developed disease,
it can slightly alleviate the condition of patients. 100 g of melon pulp meets 1% of the body’s zinc requirements. Because the amount is low, the benefits of melon do not outweigh the harms of carbohydrate intake in diabetes.
Types of Diabetes and Melon
For reasons of disease development, diabetes is divided into hereditary (type 1) and acquired (type 2).
Signs of type 1 diabetes:
- It is inherited, diagnosed from birth.
- Associated with the synthesis of insulin in an inactive form or in its absence.
- It is found in all age categories.
- The amount of subcutaneous fatty tissue is reduced, and the body weight may be under or normal.
- Throughout their lives, patients are required to take insulin injections.
- A low carbohydrate diet is not prescribed, but insulin should be taken after a meal.
Type 1 diabetics can consume melon, but only with common insulin therapy.
Signs of type 2 diabetes:
- Non-hereditary, it develops with uncontrolled consumption of products containing sugar. Often accompanied by obesity and other metabolic disorders. In rare cases, it develops with a prolonged inflammatory process or with pancreatic cancer, when the beta cells die.
- Insulin is synthesized, but the body’s cells lose their sensitivity to it. Glucose builds up in the blood and is converted to fat, which is deposited in the subcutaneous layer. As a result, byproducts are formed in the body – ketone bodies, which are excreted in the urine and in the exhaled air (fruit breath).
- Patients are often overweight.
- Type 2 diabetics are elderly or middle-aged patients.
- Medications for type 2 diabetes do not contain insulin but increase the sensitivity of cells to this hormone.
- A low carbohydrate diet is prescribed which excludes sugar and high glycemic index foods.
Melon for diabetes mellitus can be consumed in limited quantities.
Restrictions and rules for using melon in type II diabetes
The consumption rate of patients with type 2 diabetes is 100-200 g of pulp per day, at the same time, other foods with carbohydrates are excluded from the daily diet.
To reduce your risk of spikes in blood sugar, take note of the following tips:
- Choose unripe fruits, they contain less sugar and more fiber.
- Among the varieties of sweet melon for diabetes, it is optimal to choose cantaloupe, which contains less sugar and glucose, but more zinc.
- Variety of melon that lowers blood sugar – Momordica … It has bitter fruit, is not very tasty and juicy, but contains all the useful elements and relieves diabetes.
- It is not recommended to consume melon with honey, ice cream, cream, and milk.
- Along with melon, you can eat coconut oil, which will slow the flow of glucose in the blood.
Despite its many beneficial properties, not everyone can eat melon. It is excluded from the plan:
- Patients with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer;
- Nursing mothers, since the substances in the pulp of melon, entered into breast milk, cause bloating and colic in an infant;
- With obesity of 2 and 3 degrees, like other foods containing carbohydrates.
Moderate consumption of melon for diabetes will not harm the body.
Conclusion
When asked if diabetics can have a melon, the answer is it can go up to 200g per day. Like all fruits, melon contains simple and easily digestible carbohydrates, the amount of which should be limited in the diet of diabetic patients.
When consuming this product, it is recommended to eat in addition to coconut oil, which slows the rate of absorption of sugar.
When shopping, choose slightly unripe cantaloupe, which has less sugar than other sweet varieties. To lower blood sugar, it is recommended to consume Momordika bitter melon fruit.
