Studies suggest that some types of honey may have a low glycemic index and cause smaller increases in after-meal blood glucose levels than other sweeteners, according to the “Journal of the American College on Nutrition.” Stabilized blood-sugar levels can help control weight, prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia, or low and high blood-sugar levels, and prevent glucose intolerance, which could help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. One study suggested that cinnamon slowed the rate your stomach digests food, which also may help stabilize blood-sugar levels. Talk with a health professional before using any home remedy.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood-sugar level falls low enough that your body is unable to get the energy it needs to function properly. People with diabetes can take medications or insulin to keep their blood-sugar levels stable so that energy is available for their bodies to function properly. Blood-sugar levels that are too high cause different problems. Improper doses of medication can cause blood sugar levels to drop, which can lead to confusion, shock or diabetic coma.
Cinnamon
One 2007 clinical trial reported in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” showed that 6 g of cinnamon eaten with meals delays stomach emptying, or gastric emptying rates (GER) which may help control blood-sugar levels. A second clinical trial conducted in 2009 studied the effects of 1 g and 3 g of cinnamon ingested with meals. The GER of healthy patients who ate rice pudding with and without 1 or 3 g of cinnamon showed that both amounts of cinnamon did not affect GER or blood sugar, but the larger amount reduced insulin levels after meals, suggesting a relationship between the amount of cinnamon ingested and lower insulin levels.
Honey
Sugar has a high glycemic load, which causes sharp spikes in after-meal blood-sugar levels, according to New Zealand’s University of Waikato. The low glycemic index of honey helps it move into your bloodstream more slowly and prevents sharp spikes and dips in blood-sugar levels. Stable blood-sugar levels also can curb your appetite and help you resist snacking, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eating fewer calories can lead to weight loss and may help prevent and control diabetes.
Clinical Trials
Although honey is reputed to have properties that help control diabetes, very few clinical studies have been conducted, and results are not conclusive as of 2011, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. One human study scheduled to end in the spring of 2012 is testing the effects of an unspecified type of honey's low glycemic index on blood glucose, insulin and inflammation.
References
- “Journal of the American College on Nutrition”; Honey for Nutrition and Health: A Review; Stefan Bogdanov, et al; June 26, 2007
- “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”; Effects of 1 and 3 g Cinnamon on Gastric Emptying; Hlebowicz J.; Jan. 21, 2009
- Mayo Clinic: Glycemic Index Diet: A Helpful Tool for Diabetes?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: Glycemic Effect of Honey
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Manuka Honey
- Mayo Clinic: Hypoglycemia
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