Should Diabetics Eat Jaggery?

For diabetes patients, consuming jaggery instead of sugar may not be a good choice, say dietitians. Jaggery, they say, has high glycemic index and should be avoided. Instead, they can have unrefined honey as a substitute for sugar.

Can we eat jaggery if we have diabetes?

Jaggery's glycemic index is very high and hence, it is not advisable for diabetics to consume jaggery. Even generally, diabetes patients must eliminate sweet foods and desserts altogether as a big part of dealing with erratic blood sugar is also killing the sweet tooth altogether.

How much jaggery can a diabetic eat?

Apart from limiting their jaggery intake to say 1-2 teaspoons a day, Chawla suggests using natural herbs like ginger, basil, cardamom for flavour instead.