Safety of Manuka Honey for Diabetic Patients

Impact on Glycemic Control

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes minimize consumption of foods with added sugars that can displace healthier, more nutrient-dense food choices, as honey, including manuka honey, contains carbohydrates that can affect blood glucose levels in diabetic patients 1, 2, 3
Diabetic patients are advised to replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water and minimize foods with added sugars to control glycemia, as clinical evidence shows that honey consumption can impact blood glucose levels 3

Blood glucose monitoring should be increased when introducing honey to observe individual glycemic responses, as honey should not be used to treat hypoglycemia, according to the American Diabetes Association 1, 2, 3
Diabetic patients should prioritize nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources that are high in fiber and minimally processed, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association 3

For diabetic patients who desire sweetness, nonnutritive sweeteners may be a more appropriate alternative to honey, as they can potentially reduce overall calorie and carbohydrate intake if substituted for caloric sweeteners like honey, according to the American Diabetes Association 3, 4, 5
Patients should be encouraged to decrease both sweetened and nonnutritive-sweetened beverages, with emphasis on water intake, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association 3

Individual glycemic responses to honey may vary, so personalized monitoring is essential, as patients using insulin or insulin secretagogues should be particularly cautious with honey consumption due to unpredictable glucose responses, according to the American Diabetes Association 1, 2
The carbohydrate content of honey should be accounted for in meal planning for diabetic patients using carbohydrate counting, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association 3
Diabetic patients should focus on an overall healthy eating pattern rather than individual foods like honey, according to the American Diabetes Association 3