Try to stick with whole fruit instead of juice because of the quality and content of its natural sugars — you'll also get the benefit of the fruit's fiber and vitamins. Fruit juice often can't provide those things. You may include natural and fresh fruit juices in your diet, though, as long as you consider the following:
- Avoid drinks made from fruit concentrates, because they contain added sugar and lack vitamins. Drink fresh and natural fruit juices.
- Consider the carbohydrates in fruit juice in your meal planning. There are 15 grams of carbohydrates on average in three to four ounces of fruit juice.
- Drink juice with foods that contain fiber so that your glucose level doesn't rise as fast afterward.
- Pay attention to the number of calories the drink adds to your daily intake.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Type 2 Diabetes Center.