An aid to lower blood sugars?
It appears that a common spice, cinnamon, in use for thousands of years, may help diabetics in their daily efforts to control and manage higher than normal blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels in the body create serious health problems and if left untreated and allowed to occur for extended periods of time can lead to life threatening complications. Unfortunately many Americans suffer from this condition and are unaware of that fact.
Some studies carried out in recent years indicate that cinnamon appears to act somewhat akin to insulin, perhaps boosting the body’s own impaired insulin production to better allow the uptake of glucose. Or perhaps the properties of cinnamon help the cells become more responsive to insulin, whatever the effect, the use of cinnamon may lead to an improved glucose control.
In 2003, the journal “Diabetes Care” reported on a 40-day study involving 60 participants with type-2 diabetes, divided into 4 groups, who were given capsules of either, 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon or a placebo. After 40 days it was shown that blood sugar levels had been lowered by 18 to 29 percent in all the groups given cinnamon but not the placebo group.
It is interesting to note that only the group taking the smallest amount of cinnamon, 1 gram, continued to experience improved blood sugar levels for at least 20 days after having stopped taking the cinnamon. Researchers were unable to determine the reason for that fact.
An added benefit for those who received cinnamon was that Triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels were also lowered.
But not all health care authorities agree
Other studies on the effectiveness of cinnamon for use in lowering blood sugars have shown no such beneficial results and some have been inconclusive. Many scientists believe that cinnamon should not be used.
A Mayo Clinic’s newsletter, described cinnamon as a “topic of debate”, that most researchers suggest that cinnamon is not effective in treatment of type-1 or type-2 diabetes and said further that “At this point, it seems unlikely that cinnamon could play any role in diabetes treatment”.
Anecdotal reports by many individuals with diabetes claim that it has been of help, others report less success. Every diabetic must be under the care of a doctor and follow the prescribed course of treatment without fail. However, the daily management of glucose is the responsibility of the individual diabetic and many may wish to consider the use of cinnamon, at least on a trial basis for a month or two, to see whether in their own situation it can provide a benefit.
The most frequently recommended amount to consume is one-quarter to one-half spoonful each day. But larger amount are sometimes suggested especially when used in the preparation of cooked foods and low-fat, low-sugar-desserts.
For instance, an apple-bran muffin recipe in a book targeted at controlling blood sugars, in its list of ingredients specifies the use of two teaspoons of cinnamon.
The product is inexpensive and readily available in a powdered form from grocery stores where it is sold as a spice for use in the kitchen. An easy way to take the finely powdered cinnamon is to sprinkle it onto a breakfast cereal or cooked oatmeal porridge. Or perhaps there are some beverages that may help distribute it sufficiently well to consume, one suggestion being to add it to ground coffee.
In Conclusion
As a long time type-2 diabetic I will give cinnamon a try while continuing my other blood sugar control efforts in accordance with my doctor’s instructions.
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