Why pumpkin is good for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how to prepare it in the most delicious ways

Diabetes mellitus ranks third among the most common diseases, after pathologies of the cardiovascular system and oncology. The key to a full life is a healthy diet, controlling sugar levels and avoiding prohibited foods. Luckily, pumpkin is not on this list.

In this article we will talk about the benefits and harms of pumpkin for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. You will learn how to properly prepare a vegetable and in what form to consume it.

Composition and beneficial properties

Nutritional value of pumpkin per 100 g:

• calorie content – ​​22 kcal;
• proteins – 1 g;
• fats – 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates – 4.4 g;
• water – 91.8g;
• ash – 0.6 g;
• starch – 0.2 g;
• sugar – 4.2 g;
• glucose – 2.6 g;
• sucrose – 0.5 g;
• fructose – 0.9g;
• fiber – 2 g.

Reference. Calorie content of cooked pumpkin is 28 kcal.

Vitamin and mineral content table:

Benefits of pumpkin:

• prevents the development of cancer cells;
• improves vision;
• strengthens the central nervous system;
• rejuvenates;
• regulates hematopoietic processes;
• speeds up metabolism;
• cleanses the gastrointestinal tract;
• restores the pancreas at the cellular level;
• normalizes sugar levels;
• improves urine flow;
• helps reduce weight.

Glycemic index and glycemic load

The glycemic index (GI) of pumpkin depends on how it is processed:

• raw pulp – 25 units;
• boiled – 75 units;
• baked – 75-85 units.

Reference. GI is an indicator of the increase in blood sugar after eating certain foods.

The glycemic index does not show the full picture of the effect of a particular product on the body. With a high carbohydrate content, glucose levels will rise, even if the GI value is low. This is the glycemic load, which you should focus on when creating a diabetic menu.

The glycemic load of boiled pumpkin, with a carbohydrate content of 4.4 g, is 3.15. This is a low indicator that allows you to include vegetables in the diet for diabetes.

Natural insulin substitute: pumpkin for type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that share an increase in blood glucose levels. This is an autoimmune pathology characterized by a malfunction of the pancreas, insufficient insulin production, and impaired carbohydrate metabolism. The disease is divided into two groups: diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2.

Type 2 diabetes is non-insulin dependent and develops due to insufficient synthesis of pancreatic hormone. At the initial stage, insulin administration is not necessary.

How is pumpkin useful for diabetes? The fact is that with a relatively high carbohydrate content, but low GI, the product promotes the formation of beta cells responsible for the production of insulin. The cells are filled with glucose, and the need for additional injections is reduced. It is thanks to these processes that the culture is called a natural substitute for the synthesized hormone.

Pumpkin for type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is insulin dependent. This means that the patient needs systematic administration of pancreatic hormone. No matter how much pumpkin pulp a person consumes per day, it will not force the body to synthesize insulin.

It is not forbidden to eat melons if you have type 1 diabetes. However, doctors recommend regulating the amount of consumption per day. The pulp contains a lot of starch, so heat treatment increases the GI, which leads to surges in blood glucose. Diabetics are forced to constantly use the formula for calculating bread units (XE) in order to understand in what quantity the product will not cause harm.

Norms are calculated depending on lifestyle and weight. For example, with low physical activity and normal weight, the daily norm is 15 XE. 100 g of raw pumpkin contains 0.5 XE.

Reference. XE is a measure that determines the amount of carbohydrates in foods. This is a constant value - 12 g of carbohydrates. For convenience, tables have been created for determining XE and calculating daily norms.

Cooking rules

We have already found out that pumpkin can be eaten if you have diabetes.However, the consumption of vegetables should be approached from a rational point of view, after consulting a specialist.

You can prepare a lot of tasty and healthy dishes from melons. The vegetable can be eaten raw, boiled, baked. Seeds and pumpkin oil are added to dishes. Remember that refined sugar is strictly prohibited. It is replaced with sweeteners or honey in small quantities.

Diabetic pumpkin porridge

To prepare a delicious dish, take the following products:

• pumpkin pulp – 800 g;
• low-fat milk – 160 ml;
• sweetener – 1 tbsp. l.;
• couscous – 1 glass;
• dried fruits and nuts – 10 g;
• cinnamon.

Cut the peeled fruit into pieces and boil. Drain the water, add milk and sweetener to the pan. Add the cereal and cook until fully cooked. When serving, add cinnamon, dried fruits and nuts.

Reference. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar.

Pumpkin juice for diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, you can drink pumpkin juice. The pulp contains 91.8% water, which eliminates toxins, normalizes blood circulation and replenishes fluid reserves.

Doctors recommend being examined before introducing juice into your diet. In case of a complicated course of the disease, it is better to discard the product.

Natural vegetable juice

To prepare fresh pumpkin juice, the pulp is cut into pieces and passed through a meat grinder or juicer and grated. The mass is filtered through cheesecloth and the cake is discarded. To adjust the taste of the drink, add lemon, orange or apple juice.

Cream soup

Ingredients:

• pumpkin pulp – 600 g;
• cream 15% – 180 ml;
• broth – 500 ml;
• tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
• onion – 1 pc.;
• garlic – 1 slice.

Cut the peeled pumpkin into pieces.Remove the skin from the tomatoes and chop as desired. Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté in a container for cooking soup without vegetable oil. Use non-stick cookware. Add pumpkin, pour in cream and broth. Cook over low heat for half an hour. Then turn the products into a homogeneous mass using an immersion blender. Add salt to taste and garnish with herbs when serving.

Nutmeg mousse

Ingredients:

• pumpkin – 400 g;
• natural honey – 2.5 tbsp. l.;
• instant gelatin – 15 g;
• boiled water – 40 ml;
• cream 15% – 200 ml;
• lemon zest;
• nutmeg on the tip of a knife;
• ground cinnamon – 1 tsp.

Pour gelatin with water, stir and leave to swell.

Cut the pumpkin into slices and bake in the oven. Then puree the pulp. Remove the zest from the lemon and add to the mixture along with cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in honey and pour in heated cream (do not boil).

Place the gelatin in a water bath, bring to a liquid state and add to the pumpkin puree. Pour into molds and refrigerate.

Baked pumpkin with honey

This is the simplest pumpkin recipe, but the result will please you. Cut the peeled pulp into slices, pour over liquid honey and place in the oven. Bake until soft, then sprinkle with nuts and serve.

Diet salad

Ingredients:

• pumpkin – 200 g;
• carrots – 100 g;
• honey - 1 tbsp. l.;
• juice of one lemon;
• vegetable oil to taste.

This dish uses raw vegetables, which need to be grated and a little squeezed out of excess liquid. For the dressing, mix honey, lemon juice and oil. Let the salad brew for 20-30 minutes.

Stuffed pumpkin

Ingredients:

• one small pumpkin;
• 200 g chicken fillet;
• 100 g sour cream 20%;
• spices and salt to taste.

Wash the vegetable, cut off the lid with the tail and remove the pulp. You should end up with a kind of pot. Set the fibrous part with the seeds aside and finely chop the remaining pulp.

Finely chop the chicken fillet, mix with pumpkin, add sour cream, salt and pepper. Fill the “pot” with the resulting mixture and bake at 180°C for 1 hour. Periodically add water to the pan.

The benefits of pumpkin seeds

Seeds belong to dietary products and are part of the main menu for diabetics. Scientists have proven that when consumed regularly, the seeds can reduce blood glucose levels. This is due to its high fiber content. In addition, the product helps cleanse the body of waste and toxins, normalizes metabolism, prevents the formation of kidney stones, and reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol.

Standards of use

The daily dose of the prepared product is 200 g. This will allow you to saturate your body with vitamins and minerals, maintain a balance of nutrients, without fear of sudden spikes in sugar.

Natural fresh vegetable You can take 3 tablespoons three times a day.

Pumpkin in folk medicine

Since ancient times, pumpkin has been used to prepare various medicines at home. Moreover, all parts of the melon crop are used: pulp, seeds and tops.

External use

In folk medicine, the vegetable is used to treat complications that arise from diabetes. Patients are often concerned about poorly healing wounds and trophic ulcers on the skin.

The most effective remedy is pumpkin flower powder. They sprinkle it on wounds, and prepare creams, ointments and masks based on it.A decoction with healing properties is made from fresh inflorescences. For example, for a compress, gauze is soaked in liquid and applied to the skin.

Decoction recipe:

• water – 250 ml;
• crushed flowers - 3 tbsp. l.

Boil the mixture over low heat for five minutes and leave to steep for 1 hour. Then strain through cheesecloth.

Contraindications

The melon crop will have to be completely abandoned if:

• gastritis with low acidity;
• acid-base balance disorders;
• complex course of diabetes;
• low blood pressure;
• individual intolerance;
• gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

Benefits and harms for insulin-dependent patients

If you have type 1 diabetes, you should not completely give up pumpkin. With moderate consumption and accurate calculation of bread units, compliance with daily norms and constant monitoring of sugar levels, you can allow yourself to enjoy a piece of healthy pulp.

If after eating pumpkin the glucose level rises by more than 3 mmol/l compared to the measurement before eating, you will have to discard the product.

It is worth mentioning that pumpkin helps with diabetes:

• hold weight under control;
• remove toxic substances;
• normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol.

Adviсe

Diabetes is not a death sentence. You just have to learn to live with this disease and control what you eat. People united by a common problem communicate on forums, create communities, teach newcomers not to despair, and share tips and cooking recipes.

As for eating pumpkin, take note of a few tips from people who have faced an unpleasant diagnosis:

1. Eat raw pumpkin for breakfast.
2. To prepare thick pumpkin porridge, use millet or couscous as a thickener.
3. Combine pumpkin juice with apple, cucumber or tomato juice and drink before bed.
4. Don't forget about pumpkin seeds. They will help reduce blood glucose levels.
5. Instead of prohibited white sugar, use safe sweeteners (stevia, fructose). Add honey only after consulting a doctor. In some cases, the product leads to sugar spikes.
6. Combine the vegetable with dill and parsley. Greens have been proven to regulate sugar levels.
7. Eat slowly, chewing thoroughly. Remember about fractional meals.
8. You can season the baked pumpkin with butter after you remove the dish from the oven.
9. The vegetable is safe in boiled, baked and raw form. Forget frying in oil.

Conclusion

Eating pumpkin is not a panacea for diabetes, but just one way to normalize the condition. There is no need to follow a strict no-carb diet; it is important to carefully choose the foods that will make up your daily menu.

Proper introduction of melons into the diet, compliance with daily norms and heat treatment rules will saturate the body with useful substances and keep sugar levels under control.