More News : For people living with diabetes, giving up tea is often more difficult than giving up sugar. Instead of quitting tea altogether, many patients look for healthier alternatives to refined sugar. Jaggery, desi khand and honey are commonly considered natural and healthier substitutes, but the key question remains—are they actually safe for diabetics?
According to nutrition experts, the most accurate way to assess the impact of any sweetener is by measuring blood glucose changes using a glucometer. Based on this method, experts evaluated how blood sugar levels respond when tea is consumed with jaggery, desi khand or honey, and compared the results with plain tea and tea sweetened with white sugar.
The comparison began with unsweetened tea. Experts observed that drinking tea without any sweetener led to a minimal rise of just 3 mg/dL in blood sugar, which is considered negligible. In contrast, tea prepared with white sugar caused a sharp spike in blood glucose levels, making it the least favorable option for diabetics.
When jaggery was used instead of white sugar, blood sugar levels increased by 16 mg/dL. While this rise was lower than that caused by refined sugar, experts caution that jaggery cannot be considered completely safe. Its unrefined nature and presence of certain minerals may slightly reduce its glycemic impact compared to sugar.
Desi khand showed comparatively better results. Tea prepared with one teaspoon of desi khand led to a 13 mg/dL increase in blood sugar, making it a better alternative than jaggery. On the other hand, adding two teaspoons of honey resulted in a 18 mg/dL spike, which was lower than white sugar but higher than both jaggery and desi khand.
The findings suggest that while jaggery, desi khand and honey are marginally better than refined sugar, they still affect blood glucose levels. Nutritionists recommend that people who consume only one cup of tea a day may opt for desi khand or jaggery in moderation. However, for individuals with already high blood sugar levels, unsweetened tea remains the safest choice.
Experts further warn that frequent tea consumption—regardless of the sweetener used—will inevitably lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Moderation and regular monitoring remain essential for effective diabetes management.
