Can Diabetics Eat Honey?

This is a question we want to answer carefully rather than with a marketing-friendly "yes."

Glycemic Index Varies Enormously

Honey's average glycemic index is around 58, compared with roughly 80 for table sugar — but this varies hugely by floral source. Acacia honey sits around GI 35; buckwheat honey around 30-40. Without lab testing a specific batch, an exact GI figure for any single jar of honey cannot be stated with confidence.

What a Meta-Analysis Found

A meta-analysis pooling multiple randomised controlled trials found that only small daily amounts of honey, around 10 grams (about half a tablespoon), were associated with an improvement in HbA1c (a long-term blood sugar marker); larger amounts showed no additional benefit. This is a meaningfully different message than "honey is fine for diabetics" — dose is the entire story here.

Source: Signos (we recommend verifying the original meta-analysis before treating this as a precise clinical figure)

Our Honest Recommendation

If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, honey is not a "free" sugar substitute. Small amounts, and a conversation with your doctor or dietitian about how it fits your specific blood sugar management plan, is the responsible approach — not a blanket claim either way.