Thoughts on Bananas?

[angela saunders]

I've stopped eating bannas since October 2016 but do miss them, I was eating about one a day. I would appreciate peoples opinions, advise, are they as bad as I've been lead to believe?

Type 2 for 10 years +
Atorvastatin 10mg,
Glixiazide 40mg,
Metformin 750mg twice a day
Lercanidipine 10mg, Perindopril 4mg for BP
HbA1c January 2017 was 53 and BP 128/81

 

[Northerner]

It's one of those things that can affect people differently, Angela, so the best solution is to test before eating one, eat it, then test again an hour or two afterwards - if there is a blood sugar rise of more than about 3 mmol/l then it's probably not suitable for you. You'd need to try the experiment more than once just to make sure 🙂

I'm OK with bananas, although I'm on insulin, so that makes a difference. I have one every day, with my lunch. It's best to pick ones that are just ripening, as the 'blacker' and squishier they are, the bigger and faster the impact on blood sugar levels.

 

[Steff]

Luckily I dont like them, but I know theres sometimes quite a diffirence in how peoples BS react, as Northener said its best to test .

 

[Lindarose]

Hi Angela I had such a massive BG rise after a banana that I've not dared try one since. I hadn't been diagnosed long and it totally It me off trying again. It would be nice to be able to eat one sometimes as they are quite a filling fruit. Maybe you will be able to. We are all different.

 

[Mark Parrott]

I've eaten one since diagnosis & I was OK. It peaked at 1 hour. Can't remember what my BG was before I ate it, but afterwards it was 6.5.

 

[Manda1]

Bananas are fine for me if I only eat a small one and its not too ripe x

 

[Pine Marten]

I love bananas, but they didn't love me so I reluctantly gave them up. The only way to know is to test. But I've noticed that things change over time, so I might give it another go, test, and see what happens...😱

Best of luck, Angela 🙂

 

[sean penguin]

hate them. always have. vile horrible things.

 

[Andy HB]

Luckily, I don't seem to have problems with bananas. However, with their high potassium content, it is best not to have too many especially if your kidneys are not 100% (which is possible with type 2 diabetes).

Andy 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Haven't had one for absolutely decades now - I like the taste (though not if slightly under-ripe and they also smell peculiar) but not the texture - and they don't like my BG at all, so it is no hardship to just not bother.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Nowt wrong with bananas. I usually have one a day but prefer them slightly under ripe. Great energy food if you're exercising as well.

 

[Radders]

I used to have one every day with lunch but stopped when I realised they were giving me a spike in levels, however recently I have started eating them with Greek yoghurt or mashed up with flaxseed and left to soak for breakfast and my levels are very well behaved! Much better even than the reduced carb low GI granola I also eat, and even Burgen toast. I also take insulin but find that most carbs spike me: bananas not so much when eaten with something fatty.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I usually have one when I'm working nights as I'm prone to going low in the small hours, but if I eat one during the day they tend to spike me.

 

[Ginny03]

I have one every day before I walk the dog - the walk counteracts the blood sugar rise fairly perfectly. With some foods it's all about timing!

 

[Wirrallass]

Sadly bananas are not part of my diet now since dx - used to make banana sandwiches for my daughters when they were small to take on picnics.