Is Honey Safe For People With Diabetes?

By Author: Bipin Goti
Total Articles: 1
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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines diabetes as a chronic metabolic disease that interrupts the function of the pancreas from producing enough insulin in our body, which leads to a high level of blood sugar. High level of blood sugar leads to severe damage to blood vessels, kidney, liver, nerves, heart, and eyes.
Therefore, people with diabetes often prescribed not to eat any kind of sweet food because it can cause a spike in their blood sugar. So, before passing any judgment on whether honey is safe or not, we must understand a few things about honey.
Honey is a golden-brown colored thick sweet liquid, mostly produced by honeybees and few other insects. The liquid, which is found in the nectar of flowers, is collected by the bees and store in their stomach. The nectar then evaporates, creating thick sweet liquid, which is called honey.
Nectar mainly consists of natural sugar and water. It is around 80% carbohydrates and 20% water. Honey also contains many vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, folate, magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium. Bees store the honey in honeycombs so that they can use it ...
... during winter when they hibernate.
Raw honey and processed honey
However, nowadays, the honey available in the market is not raw honey. They are processed honey that means it has been heated and filtered by the manufacturer before packaging to create a longer shelf life. So, the processed honey is not as nutritious as organic raw honey.
The connection between honey and blood sugar level
As we know that honey is natural sugar, and it contains huge amount of carbohydrates, it is natural that it will affect your blood sugar level.
According to a study, honey raised blood sugar and insulin levels in people with and without diabetes within 30 minutes. But soon, within 2 hours, the sugar level fell due to the increase in insulin levels.
In another research published in 2017, it was found that that honey has reduced fasting serum glucose and increased the levels of fasting C-peptide, which helps the pancreas to secrete insulin that keeps the blood sugar level stable.
In a study conducted in 2018, has also said that in future honey may be useful in treating type 2 diabetes, due to hypoglycemic effect. It also states that it might have a role in treating the beta cells of the pancreas that produces insulin for the body.
A study involving 48 people with diabetes consumed honey for eight weeks, but their blood sugar level did not increase. In fact, they lost weight, and their cholesterol level was also lower than others. The study also tested the participant’s hemoglobin. However, their hemoglobin level was high, so they were suggested cautious consumption of honey.
Sugar vs. honey for diabetes
Honey might be a slightly healthful substitute for sugar, but it should be used in moderation. It can cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
Consuming sugar is a big no for diabetic patients, as it can cause serious health issues.
Try to consume raw honey, as processed honey might not be pure and may contain added sugar.
Compared to sugar, honey has a lower glycemic effect on people with diabetes.
Is honey safe?
According to numerous studies, honey does increase the production of insulin and help people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Also, there is no conclusive research, which can say that honey is 100% safe for a patient who has diabetes.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that honey has several health benefits, but confirming it safe for people with diabetes will require more research.
However, you can replace other sugars with honey and consume it in moderation. You can also consult with your doctor before coming into any conclusion.