Agave syrup (also known as agave nectar), long since used to make products with less than desirable health effects (like tequila), is actually very sweet, much sweeter than sugar. Due to the smaller volumes required to sweeten something to the same level of sweetness, in addition to a few other factors, a few companies have made claims that agave syrup is a natural sugar substitute for diabetics. But, really, is it healthier for diabetics than sugar is?

Well, the answer can be reached through a little bit of science. Just a tiny bit, I promise! You see, the standard table sugar is split 50/50 between glucose sugars and fructose sugars. Fructose sugars, unlike glucose sugars, absorb into the body at a relatively slow rate, which can lead to trends of obesity, but can also help diabetics avoid dangerous spikes in blood sguar levels.

Agave syrup, in contrast to table sugar, is often 10% glucose and 90% fructose, which results in a low glycemic index. The problem is that there are variants of agave syrup out there that have 45% glucose and 55% fructose, meaning that it is only slightly better for a diabetic than normal sugar. As it turns out, the standard high fructose corn syrup has the same percentages of glucose and fructose. It is not good enough.

It is important to note that standard sugar and agave syrup both have the same number of calories per ounce. 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 kind, it is. However, the benefits are limited as it is still sugar. In addition to that, since agave syrup fructose and glucose concentrations can vary, it only serves to emphasize that diabetics should be researching what exactly they are heating, especially since consuming large amounts of something you think is healthy when it isn't can be quite dangrerous.

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 enjoy your food!