Actually, any sugar will work in these conditions. Even despite the fact it is "non-reducing", like sucrose. In strongly basic conditions, silver is much stronger oxidizing agent than in near-neutral conditions. Base decompose glycosidic bond in sucrose and liberate free glucose and fructose. But oxidation party just begin there. Sugar in these conditions is completely "shredded" to small oxidized molecules, in some cases even to carbon dioxide (which forms carbonates in strongly basic conditions).
That is why even glycerin works as reducing agent for this conversion.