

When grapefruit compounds alter the activity of this enzyme and various enzymatic processes, they cause either stronger effects of some medication by increasing their concentration into the bloodstream and potential toxicity effects, or reduce the efficacy of some medication, prompting related side effects. The enzyme mostly deactivates medication to facilitate its removal from the human body, but also holds the biological ability to activate some medicines, increasing their efficacy. The primary enzyme affected by compounds in grapefruit is Cytochrome P450 3A4, but Cytochromes P450 proteins involved in enzymatic reactions are also affected. Three such compounds are bergamottin, dihydroxybergamottin and naringenin which act on specific liver and digestive enzymes which activate or inactivate medicines, including diabetes, blood pressure, arrhythmia, cholesterol, anxiety, depression, blood clotting and immune system suppressing medication as well as antihistamines. The main reason why diabetics receiving medication can’t have grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice is because the fruit and its juice contain naturally occurring compounds called furanocoumarins and flavanones that influence how certain medicines are absorbed and how strong or weak their effects are as a result. The effects of grapefruit on diabetes are far more complex than those of bananas or cherries or even pineapple and watermelon because the fruit contains natural chemicals that either increase or decrease the concentrations of certain medication in the bloodstream and their effects. However, if they are receiving any form of medication for their condition, then it’s likely not safe to eat the fruit or drink the fruit juice.

Can diabetics eat grapefruit? Diabetics that are not on any medication can eat grapefruit safely with their condition as long as they keep intake low enough so they don’t exceed their recommended daily intakes of carbohydrates and sugar, a crucial aspect of successfully managing the metabolic condition.
