We know that honey is a flavorsome fluid substance that pleases our taste buds with its sweet tang. Though many of us consume honey to gain its health benefits and to enjoy the sweet taste, diabetics often become concerned about its effect. In fact, they ask- Will the condition of diabetes be worsened after consuming honey?
Generally, doctors say that we must not eat sweet foodstuff, when we have diabetes and if we have excessive body weight. Now, we need to know whether the same reason is applicable in the case of honey. Before going through a detailed discussion, you may have a glance at how honey is produced-
Bees – As the major contributor to the production of honey
Honey is such an item, which is produced after some activities of bees. Usually, bees draw nectar from any blossoming plant; then, they return back it to the hive.
However, the major difference is created among honeys, in accordance with the plants, where the bees have visited and the location of the growth of plants. It is such a thing, which is different all over the world, because bees, in fact, have a comparatively small chosen range for the activity of pollination.
Most of the clinical researches and experiments say that honey can be consumed by diabetics. However, the major mystery is found in the kind of sugar- toxic sugar, bad sugar or good sugar.
Glycemic Index – A tool to measure the effect of honey on diabetics
On average, honey has glucose, fructose, sucrose and some other disaccharides. The overall amount of sugar in 100 gm of honey is about 79.7 gm. However, GI of fructose is 19, whereas, for sucrose (that is present in low amount in honey), it is almost 68. Again, GI of glucose is 100.
Since fructose is the major sugar of honey, it may be said that honey, which has significant fructose, include a low GI. The fructose amount depends on the type of blossom, from where the honey is produced.
Are all kinds of honeys suitable for diabetics?
You can find some honeys that have the extremely high amount of a substance, known as, methylglyoxal. Such type of honey seems to be good because it comprises non-peroxide antibiotic action because of the MGO, However, you must not overlook the fact that MGO can be very poisonous to cells of your body. So, fast detoxification is inevitable and the detoxification procedure leads to a considerable adverse effect. Researchers have found that MGO has also some relation to the early insulin resistance phases.
Many varieties of honey may have a little MGO, particularly honey, which has been heated.
Again, some of the European nations test honey especially for this MGO. They prohibit the imports of honey with extreme MGO level.
Some of the several variants of honey include:
- Acacia Honey
- Buckwheat Honey
- Manuka Honey
- Neem Honey
Among all these variants neem honey (derived from the neem flowers) has the property of neem, and it may regulate blood sugar very well. There are some Ayurveda therapies, in which, honey is applied treat diabetes type 1 and 2.
Honey – Suitable for type 1 diabetes
Honey is found to be acceptable to type 1 diabetes patient. In some of the researches, scientists have observed that it results in more increase of c-peptide than that of glucose or sucrose. C-Peptide stands for the level of the rise of insulin in blood. There is a scientific fact behind it.
After consumption, honey is quickly absorbed by our body and transformed to glycogen within liver, and so, it glucose is not circulated and the blood sugar also gets lowered. (Liver changes glucose and fructose in the ratio-1:1, to glycogen. In fact, honey also has the same ratio and thus, it is ideal for instant release of glycogen. Lowered level of your blood sugar always denotes a reduced release or demand of insulin and it ultimately leads to the blood sugar stabilization.
Want to taste honey? Then be careful of the amount
For diabetics, though honey is not recommended by many doctors, there are some views against it. With the right control, most of the diabetics as well as pre-diabetes may still consume natural honey without much concern. Prior to adding honey to their diet chart, at first make out the amount of sweet liquid that may be taken every day. Every diabetic is not same and the patients should know how their body gives response to carbohydrate or starches in the food. Rather than the sugar, carbohydrate intake is the major concern.
Just as potatoes and rice, honey also contains carbohydrate. Thus, you have to remember that only one spoon of honey holds almost 17 g carbohydrate. At the same time, you need to count the level of carbohydrate intake with some other foods. In order to check the response of your body to honey of any variety, blood sugar has to be tested before and after consumption.
Moreover, while buying commercially produced honey, you have to be certain that this is completely pure without any adulteration by starch, glucose, cane sugar or malt that must be avoided by any diabetic patient.
However, the good fact for you is that for your diabetes pure honey may be a better option than table sugar or some artificial sweeteners, like saccharin.
Best ways to add honey to food for diabetics
When you like to have the flavor of honey or want to add some sweet taste to the diet, you may better limit the amount to be consumed. For instance, you may add half tablespoon of honey to yogurt, tea or oatmeal, and it is really an interesting idea to control your sugar and take pleasure in honey at the same time. Though the amount to be chosen is very low, you may slowly be able to adjust yourself to this limited sugar intake. So, enjoy the delicate zest of honey and control diabetes in a simple way.
In conclusion, we can say that many of the experts have recommended the use of unpasteurized or raw honey as the better plan. Most importantly, it may be more preferable to the refined or standard honey. You may keep on consuming this honey for about twelve weeks, and it may boost up or speed up the effect of regulating blood sugar. The major component, found in the beneficial honey, is Chirositol, and in research, this substance is found to create a very positive result on the level of your blood sugar.
Still, you may talk to an endocrinologist prior to choosing any honey-based remedy, and always try to have honey in moderate amount. By following all these tips, you may surely get the required benefits from honey and also alleviate diabetes.
Check out also can diabetics eat fruit, bread, ice cream, chocolate or bananas.
