title: Comparison of glycaemic response to honey and glucose in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the glycaemic effect of 75 gram and 30 gram of natural honey in a honey tolerance test with that of 75 gram glucose in type 2 diabetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental study was conducted at the Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, and comprised 97 type 2 diabetic patients who came to the out-patient department between March and August 2011. The patients were randomly divided into 75 gram honey group (group 1), 30 gram honey group (group 2), and 75 gram glucose group (group 3). Fasting blood samples were obtained as well as after 1 and 2 hour. SPSS 11 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 97 participants, 62 (64%) were females and 35 (36%) males.Their ages ranged from 25-68 years. Mean rise in blood glucose after two hours in group 2 was 30 mg/dl; group 1, 85mg/dl, and group 3, 170 mg/dl. The difference was statistically significant (p <0.005).The glucose response was significantly lower at 2 hours in group 2 (p <0.001) compared to group 1 or group 2. A significant difference was also seen in group 1 and 3 (p <0.0001). The plasma glucose level in response to honey peaked at 60 min and showed a rapid decline compared to that of glucose, indicating a lower glycaemic response of honey. A small proportion of patients 3 (10.7%) even showed a glucose lowering effect after low dose of honey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low dose of honey can be a valuable sugar substitute for patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital. seedling7602@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital.
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samad
authors.affiliation: Al-Hamra Diabetes Center, Karachi.
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haroon
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital.
authors.forename: Saera Sohail
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kidwai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinnah Medical College Hospital.
authors.forename: Shaista
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacy, Jinnah Medical College Hospital.
authors.forename: Mahrukh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zehravi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005947:Glucose