Scientific studies on the effect of honey on insulin and C-peptide levels in healthy and diabetic patients are controversial. More research is needed to conclude whether honey can be used to prevent and treat diabetes. However, I would not say that extra honey is good for diabetes; the evidence is not so solid.
Honey alone is unlikely to cause diabetes. However, honey is high in sugar, and people who consume large volumes of it over time are at increased risk of becoming diabetics. Therefore, people concerned about their sugar intake should abstain from eating honey in both its raw and processed forms.
Consuming honey can be beneficial and is a good alternative to regular sugar, which helps keep you fit and healthy.
If your diabetes is well managed, not overweight, and still in good health, honey as a sugar substitute may help. Several studies have examined adding honey to the diet, not just as a sugar substitute. Because of the stimulant, some people believe that honey is actually good for people with diabetes and even prevents diabetes. Honey is easier to digest than sugar and helps maintain a high metabolic rate.
Honey Is a Popular Natural Sweetener
Honey, when consumed in moderation and in place of sugar, is an excellent all-natural sweetener that has been used for thousands of years. Natural honey has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has a low glycemic index compared to table sugar. Rich in antioxidants, amino acids and antimicrobial properties; Honey in its raw form is considered a superfood and can be used to treat a variety of problems. The health benefits of raw honey weren’t described in terms like low glycemic index or prebiotic, it was used topically and consumed from honeycombs as a form of natural food medicine.
Honey is made by bees from nectar and is considered a healthy alternative to sugar. Compared to sugar, which lacks nutritional value, honey is rich in natural bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants such as flavonoids, with the highest levels in darker honeys. The key difference between honey and sugar is that honey also contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, zinc and vitamin C, as well as antioxidants. It’s not a lot, so don’t think of honey as a major source of vitamins and minerals like potassium.
Honey differs from white or table sugar in that sugar does not contain vitamins and minerals. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar, so some recipes may use less honey in place of sugar. One tablespoon of honey, which weighs about 21 grams, has about 64 calories, while 21 grams of white sugar has 80 calories. Compared to granulated sugar, honey actually contains more carbohydrates and more calories than a teaspoon.
Honey Is Less Impactful than Pure Glucose
In people with type 2 diabetes, honey also had much less effect on blood sugar levels than pure glucose. The researchers found that in a group of people with diabetes, honey caused blood sugar levels to start to rise 30 minutes after consumption.
Because insulin removes sugar from the blood, this could explain why blood sugar levels in the honey group dropped from 60 minutes. One study examined the effect of honey versus glucose on blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes by measuring blood sugar levels one and two hours after participants ingested it.
Therapeutic effect in the future In 2012, a study of 50 people with type 1 diabetes found that honey was less likely to raise blood sugar levels than sucrose. The same researchers also looked at the comparison between honey and sucrose (common table sugar), which is more applicable to real diets. It was concluded that honey compared to dextrose and sucrose caused a lower increase in PGL in diabetics. In diabetic patients, honey compared to dextrose caused a significantly lower increase in plasma glucose (PGL).
Possible Hypoglycemic Effects of Honey
A small 2004 study looked at the effects of honey and sugar on blood glucose levels. Several studies mentioned earlier show that honey consumption reduces body weight as well as blood sugar levels in healthy individuals and diabetic patients compared to sugar consumption. This pilot study in healthy, diabetic, and hyperlipidemic individuals demonstrates varying intakes of refined sugar and honey, increased blood sugar levels, and increased insulin levels in a healthy state.
Each diabetic’s body reacts differently to different food groups, so honey consumption is entirely dependent on the amount of sugar and carbohydrates that their body needs daily for proper and normal functioning.
Many diabetic clients have told us that they tolerate honey better than white sugar. There are many different types of sugar, and people with diabetes may wonder if certain types of sugar, such as honey, are better for them than white sugar. Finding healthier alternatives to sugar can help people with diabetes be more flexible and free in their diet.
Honey Might Be Useful for Regulating Blood Sugar Levels
It has been suggested that some cases of diabetes can be partially controlled by eating foods that cause low blood sugar, such as honey. A review published in 2017 found that in people with type 2 diabetes, doctors may someday use honey to lower blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes and metabolic disorders, and heal wounds. We think so, as honey for diabetics has less effect on blood sugar levels, increases insulin production, and there are a number of other health benefits of honey.
In 2014, researchers from Greece published similar results, noting that honey can help fight inflammation associated with diabetes, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, which are hallmarks of metabolic disease. However, despite the slightly higher glycemic index of table sugar, honey does help moderately increase blood sugar levels, even in people with diabetes. Switching from refined sugar to honey may help lower blood sugar levels, according to a 2018 review published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.
Non-diabetic rats were also given distilled water (0.5 ml/day) and Tualang honey (1.0 g/kg/day). In diabetic rats treated with honey, blood glucose levels significantly decreased [8.8 (5.8) mmol/l; median (interquartile range)] compared with control diabetic rats [17.9 (2.6) mmol/l]. After 60 minutes, the level drops much faster than after consuming regular sugar.
