Cinnamon and Diabetes

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Sqwidgetz Tucson, AZ(Zone 9a) Feb 04, 2004

Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice
(courtesy of southbeachdiet.com)

It's great in coffee, chewing gum, and on top of ricotta crème, but can cinnamon also help treat diabetes? A recent study conducted at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland showed that type 2 diabetics may be able to decrease blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood fat levels by adding a mere gram—about a quarter of a teaspoon—of cinnamon to their daily diet.

People who suffer from type 2 diabetes lose their sensitivity to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. This results in fatigue and can ultimately lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness. Cinnamon contains compounds that help make insulin more efficient, according the study's authors. Specifically, cinnamon can "improve the hormone's ability to bring glucose to the cells that need it," the researchers note.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is also examining the role of cinnamon in diabetes management. In the December 2003 issue of ADA's medical journal Diabetes Care, authors noted "previous research has shown that cinnamon appears to help fat cells recognize and respond to insulin. In test tube and in animal studies, the spice increased glucose metabolism by about 20 times."

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor about adding cinnamon to your diet. Less is more in this case—as with other spices, too much cinnamon may be toxic. Cinnamon aldehydes (used to flavor chewing gum and toothpaste) have been associated with oral lesions and carcinomas, while excessive amounts of cinnamon oils and ground cinnamon have been connected to stomach ailments and skin allergies, respectively. It's unclear exactly how much cinnamon is too much, but since researchers have achieved positive results with only a gram of cinnamon per day, there's no need to consume more than this amount.

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leaflady Hughesville, MO(Zone 5a) Feb 04, 2004

Some diabetics have a problem with their cells lacking proper insulin reciptors. This is the case with my husband. The only thing these folks can do is flood the system with insulin until it finally breaks thru to the cells. Then they usually have an insulin reaction. This is known as the symosian(?)effect. I wish cinnamon and some other natural remedies would work for him.

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