The Surprising Health Benefits of Dates: A Closer Look at Their Impact on Blood Sugar Levels

Kaylee Everhart

Updated Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

Did you know that dates basically have no impact on your blood sugar levels despite being absolutely crammed with sugar? It is the most fascinating thing ever. They're delicious, don't mess up your blood sugar, and will make you feel very full. This is actually facts. Timeschool. Dates don't seem to negatively impact blood sugar levels even if you're type 2 diabetic.

A randomized control trial took 79 patients with type 2 diabetes and allocated them 60 grams of dates or raisins every day for 12 weeks. The study found that dates had no significant impact on their HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, beta cell function, or any cardiovascular marker. Concluding that despite being very high in sugar, dates had no deleterious effects on glycemic control in diabetics.

And there's more. A meta-analysis of 10 studies suggests that dates might even lower your fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels. Another control study on 100 diabetics found that giving patients 3 dates a day for 16 weeks actually lowered their total and LDL cholesterol, possibly because of the high polyphenol content in dates.

User reactions to this fascinating information are varied and colorful. One user humorously noted the subtitle error, "Figs are p***ed," while others expressed gratitude to the "stethoscope man" for reliable and accurate information. Some comments pointed out the design flaws in some studies but acknowledged the potential benefits of dates when consumed in reasonable quant*****.

Others raised concerns about the fructose content in dates and its impact on liver health, while some were excited about trying new recipes like Medjool dates wrapped in bacon or using date syrup as a yogurt topping. There were also some skeptics, particularly among type 1 diabetics, questioning the validity of these claims.

Dr. Idz, who is well-known outside of the US, was mentioned as a reliable source of information, particularly for type 2 diabetics. One user recommended chopped dates in rolled oats with shredded coconut for a sweet, filling, and nutritious breakfast.

Dates come in different cultivars like Medjool and Delgat Noor, with Medjool being one of the sweetest. It is essential to identify which cultivar is being discussed in studies to understand their specific health benefits better.

While dates are high in sugar, they do not seem to negatively impact blood sugar levels in diabetics and may even offer additional health benefits such as lowering cholesterol. However, it's always best to consult with a healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your diet, especially for individuals with specific health conditions.

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View source: Imgur

Top Comments from Imgur

FeChefImgur

That very last auto subtitle though "figs are p***ed" (class dismissed) - lol.

MidnightTacoTruck

Thank you stethoscope man

OMGamIImguringCorrectly

I know what he's saying is reliable and accurate because stethoscope.

insecure400lbman

This is why I never go on dates.

glamdring1

This is a garbage in garbage out situation. Those are horribly designed studies so meta analysis based on them generate c*** data. That said, a lot of the sugar in dates is in the form of fiber so it would make sense for them to be generally ok for diabetics in reasonable quant***** as long as they aren't the sugar cured kind. These studies just do very little to actually prove that.

giraffytaffy

Ugh. Great. One more thing nosey people are going to tell me to eat to cure my (Type 1) diabetes.

sevro77

Medjool dates wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven make a crazy good snack. Remove the seed of course and stuff a cream cheese or whatever you like.

sadurdaynight

Dates are higher in fructose, which doesn't use insulin to transport. Liver processes fructose directly, but can only do about 2 bananas worth a day. Excess fructose gets converted to triglycerides and stored, and can lead to fatty liver. There was a big wave of "diabetics can use fructose as sweetener" in the past until they found out they were getting liver damage. This "dates have low glycemic index" is just same b******* that's already been proven to be dangerous.

Exdeath5000

Dates raise my stress levels

llebkcir

cheers, good news. love some Medjool dates

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