Honey is a natural sweetener that has been used for centuries due to its wonderful health properties, providing antioxidants, as well as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and organ-protective effects. Diabetes mellitus, on the other hand, is a health problem that affects how your body is able to use and convert sugar from your diet into energy for your cells to function adequately. Considered one of the most common diseases that affects the world’s population today, getting diagnosed with diabetes mellitus involves a wide array of treatments to help regulate blood sugar levels for life, preventing the highly-feared end-organ damage associated with its complications. The good news is that these complications can be prevented with timely and holistic care!
Bonus point! You can actually add honey into your daily routine. What is Honey?
Honey is a nutritious substance that has been transformed by honeybees from nectar produced by flowering plants. Most of the world’s supply of honey is found in Asia, while approximately 4.1% of the honey supply are produced in the United States.1 Different sugars make up 80-85% of its contents (with fructose comprising 21-43%), while the remaining components are made up of water, proteins, and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects.1
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic problem that happens when too much sugar is present in the blood due to problems with insulin secretion or resistance. The type that mostly affects the adult population is type 2 diabetes, a condition featured in our previous blog post, and is caused by the dangerous resistance of your organs and tissues against insulin, a hormone that helps them store and replenish their energy for adequate functioning.
The Effects of Honey on Blood Sugar
Consuming honey in moderation can actually have beneficial effects on your blood sugar and insulin levels. Honey has been known to decrease your blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion and promoting your body cells’ sensitivity to insulin!1 Additionally, honey can also help in producing hydrogen peroxide, which not only acts similarly to insulin, but also supports your immune system in fighting off infections.2 Consuming honey also helps minimize the production of prostaglandins that inhibit insulin secretion, ensuring adequate levels of insulin are maintained in the body.
Benefits of Honey for Diabetics
Aside from the wonderful effects of honey on blood sugar and insulin levels, this natural substance is safe to consume as an alternative sweetener for when you still want to have that hint of sweetness in your favorite foods and drinks. Fructose, the type of natural sugar found in honey, only has a glycemic index of 19, while glucose (another type of sugar commonly found in most foods you eat everyday) has a glycemic index of 100!2 This means that honey has a lower potential to quickly make your blood sugar levels rise compared to your favorite bread or pasta! In fact, honey’s high fructose content can help reduce dangerous blood sugar spikes through activating a special enzyme (glucokinase) which helps transport glucose into a safe storage site: the liver!1 Additionally, the negative consequences of eating heavy amounts of glucose long-term, such as heart problems and insulin resistance, have not been associated with consuming honey.2
Interestingly, the antioxidant properties of honey also help protect and nurture your pancreas, which is a vital organ that primarily secretes insulin and glucagon, two hormones that maintain optimal levels of sugar in the blood and energy in tissues. Honey shields the pancreas against oxidative stress, preventing organ damage and complications associated with diabetes.2
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THE BLOG AT NATURAL PATH TO WELLNESSAuthorSNatural Path to Wellness values community education and welcomes contributions from writers with a background in Naturopathic Medicine, natural health and wellness, herbalism, homeopathy, Nature Cure, and more. Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
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