Honey May Be Healthy Alternative Sweetener for Those with Diabetes

Antioxidants of honey in perspective of blood glycaemic control

Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, February 2019, Volume 69, Issue 2

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Diabetes is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder that is characterized by an abnormal increase of blood glucose level over the range of 126 mg/dl in fasting condition.

Prolonged stay of glucose in blood leads to hyperglycaemia, which is an established index of diabetes development. Chronically, this high blood sugar predisposes to different types of complications. Hyperglycaemia is a key factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications by increasing protein glycation and gradual buildup of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) in body tissues.

...Antioxidant-rich diets have been proposed as attractive candidates for diabetes management. Recently, a study reported the binding mechanism of phytochemicals with two enzymes (-amylase and -glucosidase) to ameliorate their antidiabetic and antiglycation potentials. It is also intrigued that amylose-antioxidants complex formation may modulate starch digestion.

One of the natural products is palatable honey which is a juicy excretion of honeybees and is derived from nectar of plant flowers. In other words it is true to say that bioactive compounds/antioxidants in honey come from plant (floral) origins.However, in comparison with the other plant based natural products, antioxidants in honey are readily available to consume in delicious semi-liquid form due to sugar contents.

Thus, the consumption of floral/plant based antioxidants through honey suppress oxidative stress to prevent vital body organs from free radicals/ROS attacks. It also decreases starch digestibility in gastrointestinal tract, reducing blood glycaemic response.Therefore, due to high antioxidative potential honey seems to be a highly efficacious and effective supplement for many of the pathologies/ailments. But diabetic patients are reluctant to use this natural honeybee produce.

...In light of above described facts, prospective research is warranted to identify different floral origins from which honeys are derived/produced. Hopefully, in futuristic studies low glycaemic indexed honey(s) will be exploited as natural healthy alternative sweetener(s) to refined sugar and antioxidant suppressant by preventing harmful effects of ROS. Furthermore, vital honey(s) along with floral origin(s) can be exploited at commercial scale in the form of honeybee farms for diabetic patients.