The Diabetes Manager

Agave nectar (also known as agave syrup), even though it has been used for a long time to make less-than-healthy drinks like tequila, is actually much sweeter than normal 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. But, is it actually better for diabetics than sugar is?

As it turns out, the path to the answer is through a little bit of science. Just a little bit, I promise! It just so happens that normal table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Fructose sugars are absorbed into the body much slower than glucose sugars, which causes it to encourage obesity when too much of it is used, but it can also result in a better sugar for diabetics since it can help them avoid dangerous blood sugar level spikes.

Agave syrup, in contrast to table sugar, is often 10% glucose and 90% fructose, which results in a low glycemic index. However, there is one problem. Agave syrup has variations that have 45% glucose and 55% fructose, making it hardly any better for diabetics than standard sugar. In fact, there is another sweetener with the same distribution of glucose and fructose; high fructose corn syrup. It really isn’t good enough.

Keep in mind that agave syrup has just as many calories per ounce that table sugar does. The catch is that agave syrup is significantly sweeter than normal sugar, so you can use less of it to get the same taste effect, which has the obvious benefit of ingesting less sugar.

So, which is better for diabetics? Agave syrup or sugar? If you can manage to get the right kind, it can be. However, it is still a sugar, so its benefits are limited. Since agave syrup can vary so much, diabetics should thoroughly research each food that contains agave syrup to know what exactly it is that they are eating, since eating something that is not as healthy as you think it is could lead to eating too much of it, which is potentially quite dangerous for a diabetic.

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. Just as a diabetic should always do, if you try a new substitute for sugar, you should carefullly monitor your blood sugar levels to insure that you aren’t having a negative reaction. Good luck, and watch what you eat!

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