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Lemon in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Many people know that diabetes is caused by a deficiency (type 2) or absence (type 1) of the pancreas's production of the hormone insulin, which is necessary for the absorption of glucose in organs and tissues. In this case, water and carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, and blood sugar levels increase. This disease is considered incurable, but by following certain rules, a person can live with it. One of them is proper nutrition. The patient has to study the effect of each product on glycemia, counting the so-called bread units (BU). Is lemon allowed for type 1 and 2 diabetes?
Benefits
Citrus fruits contain various kinds of flavonoids such as flavanone glycoside, flavone glycoside and polymethoxyflavone. It has been reported that the flavonoids in lemon fruit (Citrus limon BURM. F) are flavanone glycosides such as eriocitrin (eriodictyl-7-O-β-rutinoside) and hesperidin (hesperetin-7-O-β-rutinoside), naringin (naringenin-7-rhamnoside glucoside) and flannel glycosides such as diosmin (diosmetin 7-O-β-rutinoside) and 6,8 C-diglucosyldiosmetin, [ 1 ] all of which have a number of beneficial health effects in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and also exert anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antiviral effects based on their antioxidant activities. [ 2 ], [ 3 ] Furthermore, previous studies have demonstrated the effects of these flavonoids on lipid and glucose metabolism in animals and humans. [ 4 ]
Hesperidin and naringin, as well as their aglycones, hesperetin and naringenin, reduce the levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in plasma and liver by inhibiting the liver enzymes involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and triacylglycerol, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylhylutaryl-coenzyme A and coenzyme A (HM) acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in experimental animals.[ 5 ],[ 6 ] A recent study also demonstrated that hesperidin and naringin are beneficial in improving hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic animals, partly by regulating fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism and affecting the gene expression of glucose regulatory enzymes, and they markedly enhance the expression of hepatic and adipocyte PPARγ protein. In addition, naringenin enhanced fatty acid oxidation in the liver by upregulating the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in peroxisomal β-oxidation in mice.[ 7 ]
Several studies have highlighted lemon as an important health-promoting fruit, rich in phenolic compounds, as well as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, essential oils, and carotenoids.[ 8 ]
It is used to boost immunity, treat colds, flu, and viral infections. In winter, to prevent diseases, it is added to tea and various potions are prepared to help overcome vitamin deficiency, gastrointestinal diseases, and increase acidity. The fruit also helps with edema, urolithiasis, gout, and liver disease. Recent studies have examined the effect of daily lemon consumption on parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in healthy women and have shown that the amount of lemon consumed had a significant negative correlation with systolic blood pressure. [ 9 ]
The wide use of lemon is due to its chemical composition. Lemon fruits are a good source of nutrition with sufficient amounts of vitamin C. In addition, the fruit is rich in other macronutrients, including sugars, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, calcium, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. [ 10 ]
As for diabetics, lemon can be consumed, because its glycemic index is only 20, while products whose GI exceeds 55 are considered dangerous for diabetics. There are even special recipes with lemon for the treatment of diabetes.
Contraindications
Along with the mass of positive properties of citrus, it also has contraindications. Lemon can cause harm in case of pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, gastritis with high acidity. In case of inflammatory processes in the mouth and throat, it can worsen the condition, causing additional irritation. Sour lemon can destroy tooth enamel, and also, like all citrus fruits, cause allergies.
When using other ingredients in recipes, it is necessary to compare their contraindications with your diagnoses in order to avoid possible complications.