Whether or not diabetics can consume honey has been a concern for many middle-aged and older adults and is often asked by patients at work, “Doctor, can I have honey?” Patients often ask this question based on two main effects of honey: first, the belief that honey has a variety of health benefits; and second, that honey can improve constipation. To answer this question, we first need to understand the nutritional value and nutritional composition of honey. Honey is a nutritious natural tonic that contains mainly fructose and glucose. 100 grams of honey contains 35%-40% fructose, 30%-35% glucose, 17%-18% water, and is also rich in a variety of enzymes from the bee’s digestive tract (such as amylase, convertase, etc.) and vitamins, citric acid, malic acid, iron, magnesium and calcium. And it is these components that give honey its many health benefits. The glucose contained in honey is a monosaccharide, which is very easily absorbed by the body and has a particularly pronounced effect on raising blood sugar. If a patient’s blood sugar is unstable, it is not advisable to take honey to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar. Honey has a glycemic index of 73, which is a high glycemic index food, and its energy is about 320 kcal/100 g. The energy is comparable to the amount of staple foods, and from this point of view, it is not very suitable for diabetics to take honey. Honey contains more fructose, the metabolism of fructose does not depend on insulin, the impact on blood sugar is small, can improve constipation, diabetic patients in better blood sugar control can take a small amount of honey, but remember not to eat more. Because the enzymes and other active substances in honey are not heat resistant, it is best to dilute it with warm water at about 40 degrees Celsius and drink it 1.5 hours before or 2 to 3 hours after a meal, but at the same time reduce the intake of other starchy foods (50 grams of honey minus 50 grams of staple foods) and pay attention to monitoring changes in blood sugar and urine sugar. It is best to drink less honey water if you are not suffering from constipation. Reminder: The market is currently flooded with a large amount of fake honey, so be careful to identify it. Fake honey contains a lot of sucrose, which is not good for the health of the population, especially for diabetic patients who try not to take it.