Use of Honey in Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the common diseases that usually occur in people, especially adults, that lead to other severe complications. In general, according to American Diabetes Association, the classification of diabetes includes type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes mellitus. In the past, honey was generally not suggested for patients with diabetes to consume because of its high carbohydrate content. This chapter discusses the scientific evidence from research that has been conducted to prove the potential benefits of honey on individuals with diabetes. The two primary enzymes involved in blood glucose elevation are a-amylase and a-glucosidase. Inhibition of these two enzymes has an antidiabetic effect, which has been determined by in vitro methods. Many studies have involved animal model or in vivo experiments. The majority of the experiments used streptozotocin and alloxan to induce diabetes in animal models. The effects of honey have also been demonstrated and evaluated in clinical trials.