Honeycomb For Diabetes: How It Manages Blood Sugar Levels?

Raw honey has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of diseases. Though its health advantages like a low glycemic index or prebiotic weren't described in words, it was eaten from the comb as a source of beneficial nutrients and food medicine. With advancements in medical science, the wellness benefit of organic raw honey is explicitly known by all of us.

But do you know which the best source of obtaining raw honey is? Yes, it's a honeycomb! Unlike liquid honey, whose properties can be adulterated in numerous ways, the honey within the honeycomb cell walls can't be adulterated. This makes it a superior natural sweetener, loaded with rich properties and recommended by many registered dietitians and nutritionists. 

But what makes honeycomb a great alternative to sugar for diabetic people? Let's understand –

What is Diabetes & Blood Glucose Level?

When we eat carbohydrates, our body separates them into basic sugars (glucose). Glucose is the essential energy source in our body. When the glucose is in the blood, insulin assists the cells with retaining the glucose directly from the bloodstream.

For individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, their bodies aren't producing sufficient insulin or reacting to insulin.

(1) Type 1 Diabetes - It is an immune system condition where the body is not capable of making sufficient insulin.

(2) Type 2 Diabetes - It occurs when the body doesn't react as expected to insulin.

(3) Prediabetes - It is when glucose levels are higher than ordinary, and the body is beginning to be impervious to insulin. Through a balanced eating routine and careful monitoring of blood glucose levels, individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance can keep eating food items they love. In addition, tracking down better alternatives to sugar can assist individuals with diabetes to have more extraordinary adaptability and freedom in their diet.

Why is Honeycomb Better than Sugar?

(i) Honeycomb has a Low Glycemic Index – Honey is made up of simple sugars, which is why honey is so sweet. While consuming honeycomb, you're also eating water, bits of bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. These ingredients thus, bring balance to the glucose and fructose, giving honeycomb a low glycemic index (GI) of 35-55, much lower than the processed sugar (GI) of 110. Therefore, consuming honeycomb won't spike blood sugar levels as sharply as sugar. One can replace other sweeteners with honeycomb in their drinks, snacks and other recipes.

(ii) Polyphenols in Honeycomb – Polyphenol is a conventional term for plant-based antioxidants. These antioxidants secure cells, assisting with forestalling health challenges such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes. Antioxidants in beeswax have additionally been found to assist with further developing insulin resistance in individuals with fatty liver disease, which in turn becomes a factor of prediabetes.

(iii) Amino acids and digestive enzymes – Digestive enzymes and amino acids work well in slowing sugar digestion. This further prevents the blood glucose levels from spiking sharply. 

(iv) Fibre and vitamin A – Honeycomb includes edible beeswax in a hexagonal structure. While this beeswax has low nutrient content, it does come with trace amounts of fiber and vitamin A making it a healthier product to add to your daily diet. 

Everybody loves to enjoy sweet recipes now and then. But, if you're going to use a sweetener, why not opt for the natural one that won't take you into a blood sugar rollercoaster? Honeycomb's beneficial properties make it an ideal low blood sugar snack or everyday sweetener for your anytime sugar cravings. But pure honeycomb at Geohoney today and swap sugar for it to give your body the balanced energy it requires.