Fact Check: Should Diabetes Patient Drink Sugarcane Juice 2-3 times a week?

This will go on the channel, right? Recently, a patient came to me from Punjab. He said, “Gulshan, I heard you say that people with diabetes can drink sugarcane juice. So I went straight from home to a roadside stall and had four glasses in one go. Honestly, I don’t know how my sugar levels behaved, but I felt so much energy and strength in my body.”

Now tell me—can a diabetic drink sugarcane juice? Yes, they can. But only about three glasses per week. One thing to keep in mind: the juice should be pure sugarcane juice. No ginger, no coriander, no mint, no lemon added. You should even tell the vendor, “Brother, whatever the extra cost is, I’ll give you five rupees more. Just don’t add anything else. Wash the glass properly and only put sugarcane juice in it.”

The claim can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is MISLEADING. People with diabetes may have sugarcane juice in rare situations, but regular intake such as 2-3 times weekly should be avoided. Because of its high glycemic index, it can quickly raise blood sugar.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a long-term condition that develops when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or when the body cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Poorly managed diabetes results in high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which over time can damage nerves, blood vessels, and multiple organs.

Can Diabetes Be Cured?

Currently, there is no permanent cure for diabetes. However, many people can achieve diabetes remission or reversal, where blood sugar levels are maintained within the normal range without medication. This outcome typically requires sustained lifestyle measures such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and weight management.

What are the Nutritional Benefits of Sugarcane and its Juice?

Sugarcane, is cultivated in over 90 countries for its economic and medicinal value. Its juice is the primary source of refined sugar, while by-products like jaggery, molasses, and brown sugar provide additional nutritional benefits in less refined forms. Traditionally, sugarcane juice has been used in India and other countries to manage conditions such as jaundice, urinary disorders, and bleeding. Rich in phytochemicals—including fatty acids, phytosterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and phenolic acids—sugarcane and its derivatives offer both nutritional and therapeutic potential, highlighting the need for further research into their medicinal applications.

What is the Glycemic Index and How Does it Affect Blood Sugar?

The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how fast carbohydrate-rich foods increase blood sugar compared with pure glucose. Foods with a high GI release glucose rapidly, causing sudden spikes in blood sugar, while low-GI foods are digested more slowly, helping maintain steady glucose levels.

Sugarcane and its juice, with a GI around 50, can trigger quicker rises in blood sugar. While this may provide a rapid energy boost—useful before intense physical activity—regular consumption is not advisable for people with diabetes or those managing their weight, as it can lead to unwanted fluctuations. Instead, low-GI fruits are a healthier option for sustained energy and stable glucose control.

Should Diabetes Patient Drink Sugarcane Juice 2-3 times a week?

Sugarcane juice has a high glycemic index (GI) and is not safe for people with diabetes, as it can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Despite its natural origin, it contains high amounts of sugar and offers no proven benefits for diabetes management.

Diet plays a vital role in diabetes management, particularly in regulating blood glucose levels. Research published in American Diabetes Association demonstrates that substituting high-glycemic index (GI) foods with low-GI alternatives can significantly improve medium-term glucose control in people with diabetes.

Stable blood sugar levels are key to effective management. A review article by Eleni Gerontiti and colleagues showed that a low-GI diet reduces blood glucose fluctuations, providing a valuable approach to enhancing overall glycemic control.

Sugarcane, though naturally refreshing, is not ideal for blood sugar control due to its rapid glucose-releasing properties. A study published in the EAS Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies highlighted that sugarcane has a high glycemic index, indicating its potential to cause quick spikes in blood sugar levels.

People with diabetes can consume sugarcane juice, but they are generally advised to avoid it. Therefore, the claim is misleading.