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

Claim

In an Instagram post, a person recommends that Diabetes Patient Can Drink Sugarcane Juice 2-3 times a week. In the reel by siddijoshi1987 it is said, "So, for someone who has diabetes—should they drink sugarcane juice? Very good question. Yes, even a diabetic can drink sugarcane juice two to three times a week. Someone with diabetes? Yes. Even those taking insulin? Yes, but after that, they should get their sugar levels tested. It contains sucrose, not refined sugar.

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.

Dr Ravikeerthy M., Senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru explained, "While sugarcane juice is often touted as a natural, antioxidant rich drink, for someone living with diabetes the high levels of sucrose and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates pose significant risks. While sugarcane juice does contain the minerals potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and some polyphenols, which might provide a small amount of antioxidant benefits, the potential for causing big blood glucose spikes outweighs those benefits. I would certainly recommend that people with diabetes avoid sugarcane juice altogether in practice .It is far better to concentrate on low glycemic load foods, eat more fibre and drink beverages that minimally effect blood sugar.

If someone were to have sugarcane juice occasionally, then they should monitor their blood glucose closely, and only after consulting their dietitian or endocrinologist, with a decision about frequency made in conjunction with monitoring their blood glucose regularly."

Dr Anusha N D, Consultant- Endocrinology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru further added, "Sugarcane juice may seem innocuous, since it can be advertised as a natural and refreshing beverage, but it is important to remember, from the diabetes management perspective it is really just liquid sugar. A glass of sugarcane juice can contain 4-6 teaspoons of sugar, and increases blood glucose levels very quickly. Sugarcane juice has almost no fibre, unlike consumption of whole fruits, that at least have some fibre to slow the absorption of the sugar. Because of this, sugarcane juice is not an option for any person with diabetes, even in small amounts, especially if their sugars are poorly controlled already. Patients are misled into thinking that because it is natural, it has to be safe for diabetes- this is not so. However if the person with controlled diabetes is still interested in drinking it once in a while then it should be done very sparingly, preferably after discussing with their doctor and looking at their post-meal sugar levels. Safer options would be lemon water, buttermilk, or coconut water in early stage, which provide hydration without increasing blood sugars to the levels sugar is likely to do."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

The claim that sugarcane juice is safe or beneficial for people with diabetes is MISLEADING. There is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the idea that individuals with diabetes can safely consume sugarcane juice 2-3 times a week. In fact, sugarcane juice has a high glycemic index, can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, and contains concentrated sugars that may disrupt proper glucose control. Therefore, its use is not recommended for diabetic patients.

Hence, the claim is MISLEADING.