Diabetes and OJ

Here is a question I recently received from FOODPICKER.org

I am worried because I was just diagnosed with diabetes. I drink freshly squeezed orange juice three times a week. Does orange juice contain too much sugar and is it advisable for a diabetic to drink juice?

A little bit of fruit juice goes a long way, so diabetes need to be extremely careful with their fruit juice intake. One half cup (4 oz) of unsweetened juice equals on serving of carbohydrate. Orange juice also has the ability to spike blood sugars quickly, which is why it's commonly used to raise blood sugars in instances of hypoglycemia.

The best advice is to eat more whole fruits than fruit juices.

For more extensive education about how certain foods fit into your diet, meet with a registered dietitian (RD) and/or a certified diabetes educator (CDE).