By Dr Bidemi Ojeleye
Can honey consumption be beneficial for diabetes?
The answer is *YES!* But with some explanation.
Pure honey which has not been tampered with directly from the hive like Tropicalbee honey is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal remedies because it contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful medicine, both internally and externally.
The beneficial functions of pure honey for diabetes are very enormous because diabetics like any other person need a certain amount of carbohydrates and sugar (not refined sugar) as fuel to nourish the body cells, and honey is indispensable to handling the complications of the sufferers.
However, the major sugars in honey are fructose and glucose (simple sugars) although there are other sugars in a very minute quantity. These monosaccharide sugars are easily digestible in the body and they go straight into the bloodstream because they have already been predigested by the bees.
Pure natural honey provides an array of vitamins and minerals and supplies instant energy without the insulin surge. Many diabetics have found honey helpful for its positive effects against insomnia and aids in the increase of calcium absorption and hemoglobin count.
Pure honey may promote better blood sugar control. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose serves as a key that unlocks the enzyme from the liver cell’s nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells).
Adequate glycogen stored in the liver is essential to supply the brain with fuel when we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise. When glycogen stores are insufficient, the brain triggers the release of stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – to convert muscle protein into glucose.
Repeated metabolic stress from cortisol is produced when less than optimal liver glycogen stores are available during sleep, and this leads over time, to impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, diabetes, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Research findings and experimental cum clinical evidence indicate that the consumption of honey in moderation (not more than 1 or at most 2 tablespoonfuls; improves blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity compared to other sweeteners.
The body’s tolerance to honey is significantly better than to sucrose or glucose alone. Individuals with greater glucose intolerance (e.g., those with mild diabetes and Type 1 diabetes) show significantly better tolerance to honey than sucrose.
Comparing the effects of sucrose, honey, and a low glycemic index (GI) sugar-free diet, the honey-based diet will have reduced weight gain and percentage of body fat, decreased anxiety, better spatial recognition memory, improved HDL cholesterol, improved blood sugar levels, and reduced oxidative damage.
To worsen the case; doctors’ recommendation of artificial sweeteners to diabetics are non-nutritive and have been found to cause more complications for the sufferers. With increasing interest in the use of alternative therapies, honey consumed moderately (not more than 2 tablespoonfuls at once) may finally receive its due recognition as a miracle healer of diabetes in no distant time. Those suffering from diabetes should consult with their healthcare provider before administering any natural product like honey.
Pure honey boosts immunity, as a spoonful a day keeps free radicals at bay. Daily consumption of honey raises blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in humans and it is found to be helpful for those with high cholesterol.
So, why not enjoy a tablespoonful of honey daily as a diabetic with a controlled sugar level, most especially at night before bed, to reduce your need for medicine and unnecessary urge for snacks that prevent your hypoglycemia at night?
Plant healthy type, still, caution must be taken not to abuse it.
- Dr. Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Coordinating Director of the Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), and the Chief Servant of Tropicalbee Honey, Ile Ife, Osun State.
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