Effects of honey, sucrose and glucose on blood glucose and C-peptide in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2013 Feb;19(1):15-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.08.002. Epub 2012 Oct 9.

Abstract

This study was a case control cross sectional study that was conducted on 50 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 30 controls without diabetes. The mean age of patients was 10.02 years. Oral sugar tolerance tests using glucose, sucrose and honey and measurement of fasting and postprandial serum C-peptide levels were done for all subjects in three separate sittings. The glycemic index (GI) and the peak incremental index (PII) were then calculated for each subject. Honey, compared to sucrose, had lower GI and PII in both patients and controls (P < 0.01). In both patients and controls, the increase in the level of C-peptide after honey was significant when compared with either glucose or sucrose (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Because of its possible stimulatory effect on diseased beta cells, honey might be considered in future therapeutic trials targeting beta cells of pancreas.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood*
  • Dietary Sucrose / pharmacology*
  • Fasting
  • Female
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glycemic Index*
  • Honey*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Postprandial Period

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Glucose