Is bee pollen & raw honey safe for diabetics?

by Michael
(trinidad /west indies)

Can diabetic people consume bee pollen and raw honey without there blood sugar rising?

First of all, I am not a doctor and this should not be taken as medical advice.

We have had diabetics take bee pollen and report no problems or interactions. However, it is always best to discuss any new food or supplement with your doctor or pharmacist before starting consumption. Diabetics sometimes have to reduce the amount of medication (insulin or metformin) when taking bee pollen as it can have a blood sugar balancing effect so it is important that you monitor your blood sugar very carefully if your doctor ok's you taking it. Bee pollen is high in protein and healthy fats which don't spike blood sugar like a sugar will. So, bee pollen should be safe for most diabetics to take but your sugars should be monitored carefully until you fully understand how it effects you.

Raw honey is still a sugar, albeit a different sugar than the refined sugar you find in so many processed foods out there today. While it is much healthier than refined sugar, I would caution you to still be careful in eating raw honey as you will be prone to blood sugar fluctuations. Raw honey will enter the blood stream slower than most sugars (it is lower on the glycemic index) so you likely won't experience as rapid a blood sugar change as if you had consumed plain sugar. I would suggest if consuming raw honey, eat it with some fiber, healthy fats and protein. This will lower the rate at which it is absorbed into the blood stream and in turn be better for your blood sugar.

So yes, diabetics can consume raw honey provided they continue to monitor their blood sugar very carefully and don't eat it on it's own. Try to consume it as part of a balanced meal with some fiber, healthy fats and protein.