http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fruits.html

For Carbohydrate Counters
A small piece of whole fruit or about cup of frozen or canned fruit has about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Servings for most fresh berries and melons are from - 1 cup. Fruit juice can range from 1/3 -1/2 cup for 15 grams of carbohydrate. Only 2 tablespoons of dried fruit like raisins or dried cherries contains 15 grams of carbohydrate so be cautious with your portion sizes! Fruit can be eaten in exchange for other sources of carbohydrate in your meal plan such as starches, grains, or dairy.

For Plate Method
f using the plate method, having a small piece of whole fruit or a cup of fruit salad for dessert is a great complement to the non-starchy vegetables, small portion of starchanother name for carbohydrate, one of the three main nutrients in food.X and protein1. One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide protein include meat, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, dairy products, eggs, and dried beans. 2. Proteins are also used in the body for cell structure, hormones such as insulin, and other functions.X foods that are on your plate.

For Using the Glycemic Index
Most fruits have a low glycemic indexa ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods, based on the food's effect on blood glucose compared with a standard reference food.X (GI) because of their fructosea sugar that occurs naturally in fruits and honey. Fructose has 4 calories per gram.X and fiber content. Melons and pineapple have medium GI values as do some dried fruits such as dates, raisins, and sweetened cranberries. Overall, fruit is encouraged when using the glycemic index to guide food choicesso enjoy -

i have fruit pretty much every day...but I watch the sizes of the fruits, pick the smaller sizes, I do bananas, apples, grapes (which I limit to 12 since a grape is about 1 carb) fresh strawberries, (same idea 1/2 portion)

just use your common sense and count the carbs into your daily allotted amounts

Thanks , grannie and gayle!

I used to have a diet that told me how many of each food I was allowed, when I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes. It was down to I was allowed #12 potato chips for so much fat count. Also a certain number of nuts.

I can't find something like that now for guidance. Do you all have something like that?

The above web site I gave you is a start, there are many sites on the internet if you can get the info from your Doctor. Call the Diabetes Association in your area they will send you free guides.

I eat fruit every day with both lunch and dinner.
I tend to stick to berries, pears, and apples.
This past winter, I was hooked on those darn "Cuties".They are so tiny and I found myself eating two per meal and that did not effect my blood sugar.
I find myself drawn to strawberries and blueberries lately. I like watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloupe, but have to be careful with them......I only will eat them with one of my meals and sparingly.
The doctors are finding that even though fruit has a lot of natural sugar (fructose)......the health benefits (viatims and fiber) outweigh the bad and are actually necessary/permissible. Just eat them sparingly and not with reckless abandon :)

I include fruit in my diet, but normally as snacks between meals. That way I can go wild and have a whole orange for about 20 carbs, or an unsweetened applesauce for 12 carbs, etc. I did give up orange juice though, as there were so many carbs that it just wasn't worth it. Also true about a lot of juiices. Don't be afraid to experiment to find what is right for you.

Laura,

I"m still confused about the carb counting. Is it you have to limit yourself to a number of carbs per time you eat? Thus you eat fruits for snacks so they don't count against the carbs you can eat at a meal? I'm new to this carb counting thing...

Laura,
My doctor put me on a carb counting diet. The amount of carbs one is allowed is most likely going to vary from patient to patient. You might want to ask your doctor about counting carbs to see if they feel you can do that. Some people have more than one issue like heart disease and more than likely might require a different type of diet instead of carb counting.
If you are put on a carb counting regime the material youn get is simple and quite helpful. Also, most doctors have a nutritionist that
gives one on one instruction if you are interested in a class.

Thanks, dumbstruck!

My husband mushes up watermelon and adds blueberry juice, a small amount, then freezes this mixture in popsicle molds. yummy and low carb. counts depend on the mold size and amount of juice.

Sounds like a creative, yummy alternative!

There is not much I can add here except to say, whole fruit vs juice, as juice will digest fast and spike the sugar.

Thanks, Renn! I love orange juice, but I notice it gives me sugar problems.

I've been told that berries are the fruits lowest in sugar. You are right, pineapples are high.

Right, berries are excellent plus I do believe they have a lot of fiber in them especially my fave the Raspberry. Try them in your smoothies or even frozen for snacking.