If you or a loved one are diabetic, there’s a good chance you have heard or read something about raw honey and diabetes. Depending on the source, honey ranges from potential miracle cure to something for people with diabetes to avoid at all costs.
The science-supported truth regarding raw honey and diabetes, as it is in many situations, is somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. Studies showing powerful diabetes-related health benefits from honey, for example, are preliminary and generally haven’t been reproduced on human subjects.
At the other end of the spectrum, the old advice that diabetics avoid simple sugars – including honey – at all costs is no longer widely promoted.
In fact, research conducted by the American Diabetes Association has shown that the consumption of complex carbohydrates has actually raised blood glucose levels more significantly than simple sugars. Starchy foods such as white bread have been found to actually produce higher levels of glucose than honey.
Dieticians today are recommending people with diabetes look at the total amounts of carbohydrates they consume when determining blood sugar levels. The general consensus among experts in treating diabetes is that a moderate amount of simple sugars like honey can be consumed as part of a balanced diet. We encourage you to work with your healthcare provider to see if honey can be included in your diabetic eating plan.