Metabolic Effects of Honey in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Metabolic Effects of Honey in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: a Cross Over Randomised Controlled Pilot Study

This study aimed at evaluation of the metabolic effects of honey, as a supplemental food, in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus. A crossover design (two 12-weeks intervention periods) was used to measure honey effects. The subjects were randomized into two groups (intervention to control [I/C] and control to intervention [C/I] groups. Each group consisted of 10 patients. . The subjects in the I/C group consumed 0.5 ml honey/kg/day in the first 12-week period (period 1) while the subjects in the C/I group did not receive honey as a control in period 1. After period 1 the subjects of each group exchanged their protocol for the following 12-week period (period 2).

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus with their last HbA1C less than 10% were candidates for this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Coexisting renal or hepatic impairment
• Coexisting diseases e.g., malignancy, other endocrine disorders
• Patients on steroid therapy or other drugs that may affect the body weight or serum lipids.