Avoid These Fruits If You Have Diabetes

Diabetes isn’t just about sugar—it’s about how your body processes blood sugar (glucose) every day. That’s why managing what you eat is key when living with diabetes, and that includes fruit.

Fruits are healthy—they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. But not all fruits are diabetes-friendly. Why? Because many fruits contain fructose, a natural sugar that can still spike your blood sugar if consumed in excess.

Which Fruits Should You Limit or Avoid?

1. Fruits High in Natural Sugar

Some fruits are naturally high in sugar. Examples include watermelon, very ripe bananas, and pineapple.

This doesn’t mean you have to avoid them altogether. The key is portion control and how you eat them.

Try pairing them with a source of protein or healthy fat, like a banana with peanut butter, an apple with almond butter, or berries with Greek yogurt.

This helps slow down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream.

2. Fruits High in Carbohydrates

Carbs play a significant role in blood sugar spikes. Some fruits with higher carb content include grapes, mangoes, apples, bananas, and pineapples.

Again, you don’t need to cut them out entirely—watch your portion sizes and how often you eat them.

3. Fruit Juice

Juice might seem like a healthy choice, but … It’s not as great as eating whole fruits. Why?

• Juice lacks fiber, unlike whole fruit.
• The sugar in juice is absorbed quickly, causing blood sugar spikes.

Even 100% fruit juice with no added sugar can still cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. So whenever possible, eat the whole fruit instead of drinking the juice.

4. Dried Fruits

Dried fruits, such as raisins, dates, dried apricots, and dried pineapple, contain concentrated sugar because the drying process removes water, concentrating the sugars.

The result? Just a small handful can have as much sugar as a whole bowl of fresh fruit. Yikes!

What’s The Best Approach?

You can still enjoy fruit, as long as you choose low-sugar options like strawberries, blueberries, apples (in moderation), kiwi, and oranges.

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid of fruit. Just choose wisely, manage portions, and pair your fruit with other foods that help keep your blood sugar stable.

Balanced lifestyle = better diabetes control!

References

CareArc. Accessed in 2025. What 7 Fruits Should Diabetics Avoid?

Eatingwell. Accessed in 2025. 6 “Bad” Fruits You Should Be Eating When You Have Diabetes, According to Dietitians.

Medical News Today. Accessed in 2025. Worst Fruits for Diabetics.