Pumpkin millet porridge is something that everyone must have tried before. It's delicious and tasty. But did you know that pumpkin can be used with other ingredients to create even more delicious dishes?
People with diabetes pay special attention to changes in blood sugar levels in their daily diet and sometimes rely on medication to control their blood sugar. There is a belief that eating pumpkin can lower blood sugar levels, as pumpkin contains a substance called pumpkin polysaccharide which has the ability to lower blood sugar. This seems to be good news for diabetes patients.
So, does pumpkin really contain pumpkin polysaccharide that can lower blood sugar levels as claimed online?
Dr. Liu Yanping, Chief Physician of the Nutrition Department at Xiehe Hospital, has mentioned that pumpkin contains a substance called pumpkin polysaccharide, which is composed of various sugars such as glucose, lactose, and xylose. This polysaccharide has special physiological effects and has been shown to lower blood sugar and blood lipids in animal experiments.
Since pumpkin polysaccharide in pumpkin does have the ability to lower blood sugar levels, does that mean consuming pumpkin can lower blood sugar for diabetes patients?
Dr. Liu Yanping said: "Pumpkin contains a significant amount of soluble sugar and starch. The content of pumpkin polysaccharide (in pumpkin) can be averaged around 5%, which means the range is from 1% to 12%. The sugar content in cola is 11%, so the sweetest pumpkin is sweeter than cola. Among the soluble sugars, about 20% are glucose and sucrose, both of which directly raise blood sugar. They are quickly absorbed sugars. So, it is quite unbelievable to say that blood sugar levels decrease after eating pumpkin."
Therefore, it can be concluded that eating pumpkin cannot lower blood sugar levels. However, traditional Chinese medicine often associates food with medicine. So, how does traditional Chinese medicine view the claim that eating pumpkin can lower blood sugar?
Dr. Gao Jing, Deputy Chief Physician of the Endocrinology Department at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, said: "Pumpkin, also known as 'fan gua' in Chinese, has been recorded for its medical and health benefits in ancient times. In 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' Li Shizhen placed pumpkin and lingzhi together, believing that pumpkin can tonify the middle (qi), tonify lung qi, benefit heart qi, tonify liver qi, and tonify kidney qi. Modern medical research has found that pumpkin polysaccharide has a certain inhibitory effect on blood sugar, blood lipids, and blood pressure. However, the content of pumpkin polysaccharide in pumpkin is very low, so relying on eating pumpkin to lower blood sugar may not have a significant effect."
At the same time, experts remind us that eating too much pumpkin may not only fail to lower blood sugar, but may also cause an increase in blood sugar. So, how should diabetes patients consume pumpkin correctly?
Dr. Liu Yanping, Chief Physician of the Nutrition Department at Xiehe Hospital, said: "If we calculate the average sugar content or carbohydrate content of pumpkin to be around 5%, the glycemic index of pumpkin is likely to be around 200 grams per serving. However, if you happen to eat a very sweet pumpkin, the sugar content may be higher. To ensure that the blood sugar load is not too high at once, it is recommended for diabetes patients to control their intake within 50 to 100 grams, which should not be a problem. But if you eat a pumpkin along with a bun and other sugary foods, the impact of pumpkin on your blood sugar will be greater."
It seems that although pumpkin is good, it should not be consumed indiscriminately. The claim that eating pumpkin can lower blood sugar is not accurate. According to experts, currently, there is no specific food that diabetes patients can rely on to lower blood sugar. Therefore, it is important for diabetes patients to follow medical advice, receive proper medication, and control their overall sugar intake in their diet.
