Plums ?

[Pura Vida]

PhD, Agronomy and Crop Science (ongoing), Master's degree, Food Science and Technology · 1 years of experience · South Africa​

Plums may assist to reduce blood sugar levels. Plums' fiber content may also play a role in their blood sugar-lowering properties. After a meal, fiber slows the rate at which your body absorbs carbs, causing blood sugar levels to climb gradually rather than spike. Fruits with a low glycaemic index (GI of 55 or less) seem to be the safest option for diabetics since they contain mostly slow-release carbs that help to better regulate blood sugar levels. Plums are a good example of low-GI fruit.

Plums do not cause a big spike in blood sugar. They increase levels of adiponectin. This is a hormone that plays a part in balancing your blood sugar. The fiber in a plum will slow the absorption of carbohydrates which allows blood sugar to rise slowly.

 

[Hopeful34]

My body's obviously not been told plums don't cause a big spike in blood sugar!!

 

[lovinglife]

I can eat a plum as part or end of a meal without it affecting my BS, I can also eat a small green apple as long it’s part of a meal, that’s why testing is invaluable as we are all different

 

[Antje77]

Plums do not cause a big spike in blood sugar.

Have you tried with a couple of plums and testing before and an hour or so after?
That's the best way to find out if something spikes you or not.

That said, I absolutely love plums so I might give it them a try without insulin, for scientific purposes of course.
I use a CGM and usually have pretty flat lines, so it will be easy to see their effect.

According to Google they have 10 grams of sugar per 100 gram.

 

[CatsFive]

Have you tried with a couple of plums and testing before and an hour or so after?
That's the best way to find out if something spikes you or not.

That said, I absolutely love plums so I might give it them a try without insulin, for scientific purposes of course.
I use a CGM and usually have pretty flat lines, so it will be easy to see their effect.

According to Google they have 10 grams of sugar per 100 gram.

So do I, and Victoria plums will be in the shops any day now

 

[LivingLightly]

My body's obviously not been told plums don't cause a big spike in blood sugar!!

Lol. My body hasn't read the literature either!

I used to enjoy stone fruits like plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and cherries. These days, even a few slices to round off a square meal, are enough to push up my blood glucose readings to unacceptable levels.

If I were to snack on a plum between meals, woe would definitely betide!

 

[Pura Vida]

I only eat berries
3 cm apple =7.3 bg

 

[Antje77]

So do I, and Victoria plums will be in the shops any day now

Just be careful if you plan on experimenting as well!
I can at least stop the experiment with a shot of insulin should it turn out that plums do give me a spike, so much easier than trying to walk it off...

If I were to snack on a plum between meals, woe would definitely betide!

[puts fingers in ears and loudly sings]
I'm now set on having a good portion of plums to (dis)prove the theory that plums 'do not cause a big spike in blood sugar' and I'm not listening!
Plums are on the shopping list. And I'm so hoping that @Pura Vida 's information is correct.

I seem to remember having done a similar experiment with a couple of dried plums after someone in a facebook group (on language, nothing to do with diabetes) insisted they were ok with diabetes. And I also seem to remember being completely puzzled with the results, it looked like he was correct. So I'm not dismissing the possibility entirely.
That time, I was about to get my period, which may have skewed the results but I didn't have the courage to repeat the experiment a week later.

 

[AloeSvea]

All the fruits - yes a big loss becoming a low-carber post diagnosis. It took me a while to let go of them. And I haven't entirely as I portion control one per season/year off of my own trees, including a plum. Or two.

But saying that, the idea that high-carbohyrdrate food of any kind can help lower your blood glucoe - what a hoot! What they should say is, some foods and some fruit, in this case plums, can take a while to digest and depending on how good (or how bad of course) your blood glucose regulation system is is what kind of spike or nae, one can get from it. But too detailed for mass education? But true, no? And there is that double whammy of effect that fruit has - with fructose and sucrose, so depends on how your liver is doing with shunting out lots of glucose or nae.

Gee, it sounds kinda complex doesn't it? Hmmmm - yes indeedy. So we get back to individual responses with eating and metering to check out one's individual blood glucose/insulin response....as said above and too right.

But interesting that plums have a relatively low carb level (the 10g per 100g) - we should see more diabetic-friendly (called 'keto' nowadays, no?) plum jams? Hmmmm - I would love that. Plum chutneys? Oh goodness. Sounds wonderful. But I think I may have to make them myself, groan, and fight with the birds when it comes to getting those plums before they do...

 

[KennyA]

I have two old plum trees, which produce a lot of sweet fruit. Unfortunately it rots very quickly....these days it gets left for the birds and the hedgehogs.

 

[Antje77]

I have two old plum trees, which produce a lot of sweet fruit. Unfortunately it rots very quickly....these days it gets left for the birds and the hedgehogs.

I have a similar situation with the grape at the front of my house, which is particularly full of grapes this year.
I always encourage all neighbours to feel free to steal as many as they can eat, I only eat a few to treat a hypo, or a single one in passing.
Good thing the chickens and turkeys love them as well, although it's always a risk when picking them, it's really hard to resist once you have them in your hands.
Grateful for the shade it provides though (although not currently needed).

No such issue with the cherry tree, the birds always win that race anyway!

 

[KennyA]

My house is built in what was the old orchard of East Riddlesden Hall. As I've cleared out the stuff planted by previous occupants the old fruit bushes are re-appearing. As well as the plums I have a very productive apple tree (sour) and a greengage, as well as gooseberries and raspberries, blackberries and wild strawberries. I've planted none of this.

There are also mature cherry trees right next door....

 

[Hopeful34]

How lovely @KennyA There's nothing like going into your garden and picking fresh produce, it tastes so much better than shop bought.

 

[KennyA]

How lovely @KennyA There's nothing like going into your garden and picking fresh produce, it tastes so much better than shop bought.

I'll have the raspberries and blackberries that the birds don't get to. Plums are just way too sweet - I'm wouldn't even bother to test. The apples will see a lot of birds and our resident hedgehogs through the winter.

 

[EllieM]

a very productive apple tree (sour) and a greengage

I am so envious. My two big fruit loves are russet apples (and yes we've planted some which are now producing) and greengages (planted last year so not yet producing). I'll live in hope that I won't have to inject too much for the greengages, but suspect I won't be able to try this out for another 18 months. (It's winter here now).

 

[Robbity]

Well, as a another plum lover, I think I'll have to give them a try. I've found with some other higher carb fruits, if I just have a few while they're in season I've not had any post-meal highs... For others, like apples and oranges, I mix and cook one with lower carb options (e.g. apple and blackberries, or orange juice & zest with rhubarb) and spread these over several days.

ETA: I need to come and live in @KennyA's garden. now....

 

[Tony337]

I have literally just eaten a plum and isn't "plum" a lovely word to say?

plum

Tony the plum

Tony wanders off whistling a jaunty tune....

 

[Robbity]

I have literally just eaten a plum and isn't "plum" a lovely word to say?

plum

Tony the plum

Tony wanders off whistling a jaunty tune....

Do you say "plum" in a plummy voce?

 

[Lainie71]

My body's obviously not been told plums don't cause a big spike in blood sugar!!

Snap! Lucky for me that our plum tree lost most of its fruit in the gales earlier this year. Alas there is just one ripe one hanging on for dear life and my husband has reserved it!

 

[Antje77]

I'm now set on having a good portion of plums to (dis)prove the theory that plums 'do not cause a big spike in blood sugar' and I'm not listening!
Plums are on the shopping list. And I'm so hoping that @Pura Vida 's information is correct.

Found plums!

The experiment will have to wait for tomorrow. Today I was swimming (which causes unpredictable BG's all by itself), and to mke life more difficult I had a 'kaassoufflé' (Dutch deepfried very cheesy and carby snack) at the pool.
It was delicious, but zero chance of a stable line without active insulin on board for the rest of the day, which is what we want for a proper test on plums.

Now how many of these plums woud be a 'normal serving'? I'm thinking 2 to 4?
A normal serving seems to be the right thing if I want to test if plums do or do not cause a big rise in BG.
I know I'll want 5, but maybe go with 3 for a fair experiment?

Please let me know how many plums you think I should be testing with.