Diabetes Details

Agave syrup (also known as agave nectar) has long since been used to make tequila, but it is actually a kind of sugar that is much sweeter than standard table sugar. Some companies have begun marketing agave nectar to diabetics as a natural substitute for sugar because of the lower volume required to sweeten something to the same sweetness level, among other factors. However, is it really better than sugar for diabetics?

As it turns out, the path to the answer is through a little bit of science. Just a tiny bit, I promise! See, normal table sugar is half fructose sugars and half glucose sugars. Fructose sugars have a much slower absorption rate into the body, which makes it tend to increase obesity problems more than glucose sugars when consumed in large quantities, but it also helps diabetics because the sugar can be sent through their system at a slower rate, preventing dangerous spikes.

Since agave syrup is usually 10% glucose and 90% fructose, it has a low glycemic index. One of the main problems is that certain variants of agave nectar have 55% fructose and 45% glucose, which is only a little bit better than normal sugar for a diabetic. In fact, that is the same distribution of glucose and fructose that normal high fructose corn syrup has. It is not good enough.

Keep in mind that agave syrup has just as many calories per ounce that table sugar does. However, agave syrup is a lot sweeter than standard table sugar, so less of it can be used to attain the same level of sweetness, which, of course, reduces the amount of sugar being consumed.

So, which is better for diabetics? Agave syrup or sugar? If you get the right version of it, it is. But, since it is still a type of sugar, the benefits are limited. Furthermore, the variances within agave syrup emphasize the need for diabetics to research what exactly is in the food they are eating, as believing that you are eating a healthier item than you are could lead to over-consumption, which can be very dangerous for anybody dealing with diabetes.

While I have covered a fair amount of information, you should always do more research on anything like agave syrup before deciding if it is good or bad for diabetics. As any diabetic probably already knows, when you try anything you haven’t tried before, especially anything sweet, you should pay close attention to your blood sugar levels just in case your body reacts in unexpected ways. Good luck, and enjoy your food!