Can regular use of manuka honey affect HbA1c or blood glucose variability in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Executive summary
Available studies and reviews show mixed and mostly preliminary evidence about honey—and Manuka honey specifically—on blood glucose and HbA1c: some animal and small human studies suggest possible benefits (lower glycemia, improved lipids or wound healing), while other trials show rises in HbA1c or higher blood glucose with honey intake; commercial sites and reviews promote Manuka’s lower-to-moderate glycemic index (GI 54–59) and unique compounds like methylglyoxal (MGO) but acknowledge it is mostly carbohydrate and can raise blood sugar if overused [1] [2] [3]. Controlled clinical evidence specifically proving that regular Manuka honey use reliably lowers HbA1c or reduces glucose variability in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is not established in the provided sources (available sources do not mention a large, definitive RCT showing persistent HbA1c benefit).
1. What the experimental literature actually shows: animal signals, limited human data
Preclinical work in diabetic rats reports that Manuka honey at high doses (3 g/kg/day) improved pancreatic histology, oxidative stress markers and gene expression tied to beta‑cell regeneration after chemically induced diabetes, and reduced hyperglycaemia in that model [4] [5]. Reviews and mechanistic papers collating animal and limited human studies claim honey can lower oxidative stress and in some cases reduce glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in rats and small trials, but these are not the same as demonstrating a durable clinical benefit in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes [1].
2. Human trials and clinical signals are mixed and small
Sources summarising human research note conflicting outcomes: some trials report improvements in weight or lipids but paradoxically a rise in HbA1c after honey versus sucrose in type 2 diabetics; other smaller studies have suggested milder glycaemic responses to honey versus table sugar or transient benefits, but these data are limited and inconsistent [6] [2]. Commercial and consumer summaries cite a 2012 small study in type 1 diabetes suggesting lower glycaemic effect and raised C‑peptide in that cohort, but these are isolated findings reported on vendor or advocacy pages rather than large clinical trials [7].
3. Glycemic index and composition: why Manuka might behave differently — and why that’s not proof
Multiple sources state Manuka honey’s GI lies in a moderate range (about 54–59), meaning it can raise blood glucose less rapidly than table sugar, and it contains bioactive compounds such as MGO, antioxidants and polyphenols that may alter metabolic or wound‑healing biology [3] [8]. However, being a lower‑to‑moderate GI sweetener does not guarantee improvements in long‑term glycaemic control (HbA1c) or reduced glucose variability when consumed regularly; honey remains predominantly carbohydrate and caloric (about 80% carbohydrates), so dose matters [9] [3].
4. Potential harms and biochemical caveats: MGO and diabetic complications
Some reviews and patient‑facing analyses warn about MGO: Manuka’s signature compound forms from dihydroxyacetone and is present in higher levels than in many other honeys; sources suggest excessive MGO may be produced with high carbohydrate loads and could be associated with diabetic complications, though direct causal clinical proof in humans from Manuka consumption is not presented in the provided material [10]. Patient forums also stress cost, variable product authenticity, and the risk that using honey as a “natural” remedy may worsen glucose if consumed without accounting for its sugar content [11].
5. Wound care vs systemic metabolism — a clear, evidence‑backed role and a separate question
There is clearer, repeated evidence that Manuka honey is effective topically for diabetic foot ulcers and wound healing, and some regulatory recognition exists for topical use; this does not imply systemic metabolic benefits from ingestion. The clinical literature and product pages consistently differentiate topical efficacy (supported for wound care) from ingestive metabolic effects, which remain uncertain [9] [1].
6. Practical takeaways and what’s missing from current reporting
For people with diabetes, current reporting recommends caution: moderate, measured use of Manuka honey may have a milder post‑prandial effect than table sugar but still contributes substantial carbohydrate and calories and can raise HbA1c if consumed in excess; the evidence that regular ingestion lowers HbA1c or reduces glucose variability across people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is inconsistent and not confirmed by large clinical trials in the sources provided [2] [3] [1]. Available sources do not mention a definitive large randomized controlled trial demonstrating durable HbA1c improvement from regular Manuka honey use in people with diabetes.
If you want, I can assemble the individual cited studies and consumer reports referenced here into a reading list, or search for later randomized trials and guideline statements that might strengthen or contradict these conclusions.