Is Honey Good for Diabetes? Key Facts Explained

Honey is golden, smooth, and irresistibly sweet, which glows like liquid sunshine. It is nature’s original sweetener. Before knowing whether honey is good for diabetes? Let us know a little about the stories of honey. It is not just about satisfying your sweet tooth. It has stories that date back to ancient times; it is said that honey has been a go-to remedy for centuries, like soothing sore throats with a warm spoonful, healing wounds with its antibacterial properties, calming coughs better than some syrups, and even giving skin that soft, golden glow when used in homemade masks. In short, honey has been nature’s little first aid kit.

So, what is Honey? A little more for you

Honey is a natural, thick liquid sweetener produced by honeybees from flower nectar.

Fun Fact 🐝

A single honeybee produces only about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime!

Now, if you have diabetes, you may think: Is honey good for diabetes?

Let's revisit our sweet honey and explore its nutritional value and more.

What is the Nutritional Value of Honey?

The nutritional value of honey, 100 g (the values are taken from the Ntuitive App)

So, Here’s the Truth!

Since honey contains high levels of carbohydrates, people with diabetes should absolutely avoid it, but if they choose to consume it, they should limit their intake to smaller amounts. We all know it’s natural, but honey still raises blood sugar levels.

What is the Glycemic Index (GI) of Honey?

Before learning about the glycemic index of honey, let’s first understand what the glycemic index is.

The Glycemic Index (GI) tells us how quickly a food can raise blood sugar levels. Foods are scored between 0 and 100 based on this scale.

● Foods with high GI (GI > 70): These foods are usually digested and absorbed quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.

● Foods with moderate GI (GI 56–69): These foods are digested and absorbed at a moderate rate, faster than low GI foods, but slower than high GI foods.

● Foods with a low GI (GI < 55): These foods are usually digested more slowly, resulting in a gradual and steady rise in blood sugar.

The glycemic index of honey is around 58, which is moderate. It contains glucose and fructose, like table sugar. It should be consumed moderately.

What are the Different Types of Honey?

If you are confused about the different types of honey, all you need to know is right here.

● Raw honey: Pure, or unfiltered honey, is honey that is unprocessed and unpasteurized.

● Organic honey: Honey that is produced without the use of pesticides or synthetic chemicals.

● Clear honey: Clear honey is a filtered, transparent honey that is free from visible crystals, wax, and pollen. The texture is smooth, and it is commonly used in cooking.

● Set honey: It is also called crystallised honey or solid honey. It starts as a liquid but gradually becomes thick, grainy, and semi-solid over time.

● Manuka honey: It is a premium, medicinal-grade honey that comes from bees that gather nectar from the Manuka plant, which grows in New Zealand and some regions of Australia. What makes this honey special is its unique antibacterial and healing properties, which are much stronger than regular honey.

A point to be noted: If you have diabetes, no type of honey is exactly good.

Honey Vs Sugar

Honey has a low glycemic index when compared with white or table sugar. Honey has a GI of about 58, while sugar has a GI of about 65. This means honey still raises blood sugar, but not quite as rapidly as white sugar. However, if you have diabetes, swapping sugar for honey is not a good idea, because both affect blood sugar in similar ways. If you choose to eat honey, it’s essential to know how much honey you are taking.

Honey and Diabetes: What You Need to Know

There are no proven benefits of including honey as part of diabetes management. Managing diabetes requires a balanced diet, regular physical activity, prescribed medications when needed, and consistent blood sugar monitoring. Because honey is high in carbohydrates, it should be limited or avoided unless specifically advised by your doctor.

For better blood sugar control, one should limit the intake of all types of syrups, such as maple, date, corn, and agave, which are all forms of added sugar. Even natural ones, such as honey, can raise blood sugar levels and should be used in small amounts.

It is very important to check your blood sugar levels very often to see how your body responds to honey or any other type of sweetener.

When you pair honey with any other food, the blood sugar level rises more than usual.

Are There Any Benefits of Honey for Diabetes?

There are no confirmed studies or research to suggest that honey is good for people with diabetes. However, honey does have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but just for that, having honey (especially if you have diabetes) is a bad idea.

How Can PB Health Support You?

When someone in your family needs care, you shouldn’t have to worry about what happens next or who will manage each step.

At PB Health, we believe good healthcare requires proper planning and regular follow-up. Our doctors and care teams work together using technology to track progress, schedule follow-ups, and keep all information clear. From prevention to recovery, every step is handled carefully so nothing important is missed.

To learn more about our approach, visit the PB Health website.