Honey Risks for People With Diabetes

Like any other sweetener, honey needs to be consumed in moderation due to its ability to increase blood sugar levels. If your diabetes is not well managed, it might be best to limit your consumption of honey.

Since honey is sweeter than white sugar, you don’t need to use as much to get the same sweetness. When purchasing honey, be sure that honey is the only ingredient listed in the product, with no added sugars.

While honey contains some beneficial nutrients, you would need to consume more than is recommended for good health to get any significant amount from it. Do not consume large amounts of honey solely to get additional vitamins and minerals, as other sources of these nutrients will have much less impact on blood sugar levels.

Infants younger than 12 months should not be given honey due to the risk of infant botulism, which may be transmitted by both raw honey and pasteurized honey.7 There are no restrictions on honey for people age 1 and over, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Adult intestinal toxemia botulism is extremely rare.8

Raw honey is typically unprocessed, while most honey found in the grocery store has been filtered and/or pasteurized. If you are concerned about foodborne illnesses, purchase pasteurized honey certified by a food inspectors

To Safely Enjoy Honey With Diabetes

While natural, honey is still considered an added sugar in the diet. Nevertheless, it can be safely enjoyed by people with diabetes when consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. A diet rich in fiber from vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes will help properly manage blood sugar levels.
Keep in mind the overall carbohydrate content of a meal when eating honey, as to not overdo it and cause hyperglycemia. Be sure to balance any meal or snack containing honey with other nutritious foods lower in carbohydrates.

Some people prefer raw honey, which will not have any added sugars. Raw honey may have tiny amounts of pollen, while pollen and other solids are removed from filtered honey.

A WORD FOR YOU....

Honey in moderation may be beneficial for people with diabetes, having a lower glycemic effect than white sugar. Nevertheless, if you have diabetes, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider before adding honey to your diet. If your diabetes is not well managed, it might be best to limit honey and other added sugars in your diet.