Honey For Diabetics – Significance

Honey is excellent for consumption for maintaining healthy plasma glucose levels (PGL) in diabetic patients. Honey regulates blood lipids, homocysteine, and CRP in normal subjects. People suffering from diabetes control their carbohydrate and sugar intake with the help of honey. It also reduces diabetes complications. Honey for diabetics may be better as compared to other sweeteners if having type 2 diabetes or are at high risk for it.

How Does Honey Affect Blood Sugar?

Being a carbohydrate, honey is going to reduce blood sugar levels when consumed. However, it may have less of an impact when compared to other sugars. In people with type 2 diabetes, the glycemic effect of honey compared to glucose checks people’s blood sugar levels after ingestion of one and two hours. With the help of honey, blood sugar levels decline at one hour.

At two hours, blood sugar levels were lower than at the first hour after ingestion of honey. Moreover, ingestion was higher than with honey in the first-hour blood sugar levels with glucose and continued to increase even in the second hour. Honey has a lower glycemic effect than glucose because honey exhibited a shorter peak in blood sugar levels.

Honey and Insulin

Honey gives a greater insulin response as compared to other sugars. Many people suggest that honey is actually good for people with diabetes and may prevent diabetes.

People having diabetes no longer make insulin or cannot use insulin properly depending on the type of diabetes. When there isn’t enough insulin or it isn’t used properly by the body, glucose (sugar) remains in the bloodstream resulting in high blood sugar levels.

Both people suffering from type 1 diabetes and without diabetes, honey has less effect on blood sugars in all participants than sucrose. Honey also increases participants’ levels of C-peptide. A normal level of C-peptide shows the body produces ample insulin.

Honey has a lower glycemic effect in both the patient and control groups compared to sucrose.  After using honey C-peptide levels in the patient group was not significantly higher. However, after using honey compared to sucrose C-peptide levels were significantly increased in the control group.

Can You Eat Honey if You Have Diabetes?

Experts suggest that people having diabetes avoid all foods with added sugar. But it is very essential to check the number of carbohydrates (including honey) that you take each day if you take insulin. It helps to control the correct dose of insulin you should take.

It can also help to maintain your blood sugar from going too high staying on top of the number of carbohydrates and fiber you eat. Even high blood sugar can lead to health problems over time if you take insulin. That’s why it’s a good option to limit honey. Talk to your diabetes doctor to figure out how much is safe for you.

Is Honey Good for Diabetes?

Honey is a good choice for people with diabetes but experts don’t agree with them. Honey has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. For people with diabetes, it is important who often have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies. But without driving up your blood sugar, many foods deliver antioxidants.

People suffering from type 2 diabetes who ate honey  5-25 grams daily for 4 months decreased their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), over recent months which is a measure of blood sugar control. But those people who eat more honey each day saw their A1c level rise. And some people got honey doses daily. It is difficult to know if the correct results apply more broadly.

Are there risks to eating honey if people suffer from diabetes?

Honey requires to be consumed in moderation due to its ability to increase blood sugar levels like any other sweetener. It may be best to limit your consumption of honey if your diabetes is not well managed.

You don’t need to use as much to get the same sweetness where honey is sweeter than white sugar. Make Sure that when purchasing honey, it is the only element listed in the product with no added sugars.

You need to consume more than recommended for good health to get a significant amount from it while honey contains some beneficial nutrients. As other sources of the nutrients will have less influence on blood sugar levels and don’t eat large amounts of honey solely to get additional vitamins and minerals.

For people age 1 and over, no restrictions on honey including those people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Adult intestinal toxemia botulism is usually different.

Raw honey is typically undigested while in the grocery store most honey found has been pasteurized. If you are worried about foodborne illnesses, buy pasteurized honey certified by a food inspector.

Conclusion

Honey may be useful for people with diabetes. It gives a lower glycemic effect than white sugar. Moreover, if you have diabetes, you will ask a healthcare provider before adding honey to your diet. It may be best to limit honey and other added sugars in your diet if your diabetes is not well managed. Honey for diabetics provides higher levels of insulin and lower levels of blood sugar as compared with other forms of sugar.