Cinnamon Dosage For Diabetes
In 2010, approximately 1.9 million people age 20 and older were diagnosed with diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. If you have chronically high blood sugar levels, you may be able to regulate your sugar levels by taking cinnamon. In traditional Chinese medicine, bark from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree is used to control blood sugar and high cholesterol levels and may also relieve digestive problems or improve your appetite. Additional clinical research in humans is needed, however, to substantiate these purported health effects of cinnamon. Video of the Day The amount of cinnamon you need to take to control your diabetes may vary depending on your age, weight and health status. Only a doctor familiar with your medical history can recommend the appropriate dosage for you. Thus, consult your medical provider before you begin taking cinnamon supplements for diabetes. Available over-the-counter, cinnamon supplements come in a variety of forms, including powder, volatile oil and tincture. You can also prepare a flavorful cinnamon tea by mixing 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon powder with boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Cinnamon volatile oil is much more concentrated than cinnamon powder and may cause temporary oral or skin irritation or burning. Daily treatment with 1 g to 6 g of cinnamon powder may improve the way your body uses sugar if you have type 2 diabetes, the University of Michigan Health System reports. Your doctor may adjust your daily dosage of cinnamon to meet your blood sugar regulation needs. Medication Interactions and Side Effects If you're already taking a medication to help control your blood sugar levels, you shouldn't use cinnamon supplements without talking with your doctor. Combining these treatments may cause your blood su Continue reading >>
Is Cinnamon Good For Diabetes?
Chances are you have a bottle of cinnamon in your spice cupboard. And chances are you never thought of cinnamon as medicine. However, cinnamon has been used medicinally since ancient times. This popular spice was used in ancient Egypt, China, and India for culinary and medicinal purposes, and its use has also been documented in the Bible. There are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon and cassia, both derived from the bark of evergreen trees. Ceylon cinnamon is grown in South America, Southeast Asia, and the West Indies, while cassia cinnamon is grown in Central America, China, and Indonesia. Ceylon cinnamon bark looks like tightly rolled scrolls, while cassia cinnamon is more loosely rolled. Cassia is the variety most commonly sold in the United States. Most people think of cinnamon as a flavoring for desserts or as a warm, robust scent for candles and potpourri. But this spice may do more than make your house smell good. Cinnamon has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003 looked at 60 men and women with Type 2 diabetes who were taking diabetes pills. The participants took either 1, 3, or 6 grams of cassia cinnamon or a placebo, in capsule form, for 40 days. After this time, blood glucose levels dropped between 18% and 29% in all three groups that received cinnamon. However, only the participants who had taken the smallest amount of cinnamon (1 gram) continued to have improved blood glucose levels 20 days after they stopped taking it, for reasons the researchers didn’t quite understand. In the study, cinnamon also helped lower triglycerides (a blood lipid) and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol levels. The benefits continued after 60 days, 20 days after participants had stopped taking Continue reading >>
Cinnamon And Diabetes: An Update
About nine years ago (way back in 2006), I wrote about cinnamon and diabetes. To this date, people still ask questions and post comments about this topic. Since then, more research is available that (hopefully) sheds more light on whether cinnamon lowers blood sugars and HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar control over the previous 2–3 months) — or not. Let’s take a look at where things stand in 2015. Back then A study that I cited in 2006 was one published in the journal Diabetes Care back in 2003 by Khan et al. The researchers gave different doses (1, 3, or 6 grams) of cassia cinnamon to subjects with Type 2 diabetes for 40 days. All three groups of subjects had an improvement in their fasting blood sugar levels, as well as their lipid (blood fat) levels. As a result of this study, many people have jumped on the cinnamon bandwagon, so to speak, taking cinnamon supplements, adding cinnamon sticks to tea, and sprinkling cinnamon on their foods. In addition, much debate has occurred regarding the type of cinnamon that’s best to use for diabetes: cassia or ceylon. Where we are now Khan’s study certainly created a firestorm and has led to more research on the use of cinnamon for diabetes management. The tricky issues around studying cinnamon are that: • There are different types of cinnamon, primarily cassia and ceylon. • It’s difficult to assess the potency of any particular “batch” of cinnamon, no matter the type. • The active ingredient or ingredients in cinnamon that might have a glucose-lowering effect have yet to be identified. Without definitive answers to these issues, it’s hard to be certain of the role of cinnamon on glucose control. Much of the “evidence” is anecdotal: Someone reports that taking cinnamon helped to lower his blood sugar, Continue reading >>
Fact From Fiction: Is Cinnamon Good For Diabetes?
Cinnamon bark is usually derived from the bark of the cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum. The most common species of cinnamon available is cassia or Chinese cinnamon, but other varieties include Indonesian cinnamon (Padang cassia or Korintje), Vietnamese cinnamon (Vietnamese cassia) or Sri Lanka (Ceylon) cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) is often a combination of these forms of cinnamon, and is the most common type found, at least in North America. Cassia cinnamon has Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status in the US and is considered safe in the amount commonly found in food and beverages.[1] The volatile oils (those that give cinnamon its distinctive odor) in cinnamon consist mainly of a substance known as cinnamaldehyde. Other substances found in cinnamon include coumarin and polyphenols such as hydroxychalcone. Cinnamaldehyde has antibacterial properties, antitumor properties and some immune system effects. The polyphenol hydroxychalcone appears to be responsible for the reported antidiabetic effects of cassia cinnamon and to a lesser degree, other forms of cinnamon. The Anti-Diabetes Actions of Cinnamon Research in a number of animal models of diabetes indicate that cassia cinnamon can increase insulin secretion, though its effects on blood sugar levels does not seem to be very significant. In clinical trials, the evidence that cassia cinnamon can effectively lower blood sugar levels and lower A1c percentage has been inconsistent. Some clinical studies have indicated that cassia cinnamon can lower the fasting blood sugar, HbA1C percentages, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure when compared to placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes while others have not demonstrated any effect. The doses Continue reading >>
How To Use Cinnamon To Help With Diabetes
Reader Approved Three Methods:Incorporating Cinnamon Into Your DietAdding a Cinnamon Supplement to Your Treatment RegimenUnderstanding Why Cinnamon Helps with DiabetesCommunity Q&A Cinnamon is not only a spice packed with healthful antioxidants. It can also be used to help diabetics control their blood glucose levels. While it should not completely replace other treatments, consult your physician about adding to your treatment regimen. 1 Use cinnamon to replace sugar. Because cinnamon is so flavorful, it can often replace small amounts of sugar in stove-top recipes, sauces, meat, and vegetable dishes. Replacing a sweetener with this spice can help reduce the amount of sugar you consume and improve your blood glucose levels. Cinnamon is considered safe when used in the amounts normally found as foods-- this works out to roughly ½ to 1 teaspoon or about 1000 mg per day. 2 Add cinnamon to your breakfast. For instance, stir cinnamon and a small amount of agave nectar into oatmeal in the morning, adding berries and nuts to make it an even more nutritious breakfast. Or top off buttered whole grain toast with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkle of a crystallized sweetener like Stevia or Splenda. Cinnamon also goes well with peanut butter or sugar-free jam on toast. 3 Use cinnamon in meat sauces. Cinnamon pairs well with poultry, pork, and beef spice rubs as well as Asian-themed dishes, marinades, and salad dressings. Mixing to taste, replace some of the sugar or brown sugar with cinnamon for homemade barbecue sauces, pulled pork marinade, berry compotes, and even marinara sauces. 4 Replace sugar in vegetable dishes. Use cinnamon in place of brown sugar or regular sugar in candied vegetable dishes, such as candied yams, baby carrots, or sweet stir fry. Cinnamon lends a complex, Continue reading >>
The Cinnamon And Diabetes Connection
Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the inner bark of trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. Reports suggest that this spice has been in use since the time of the Egyptians, as early as 2000 years ago. Cinnamon has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, apart from its use as a spice and as an embalming and anointing oil. There has been research that indicates that there is a cinnamon and diabetes connection and that type 2 diabetics certainly benefit from consuming cinnamon. It has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Cinnamon has been found effective in medical conditions such as: Muscle spasms Vomiting Diarrhea Infections Common cold Loss of appetite Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease Erectile dysfunction (ED) HIV Multiple sclerosis and Chronic wounds Research into Cinnamon and Diabetes A paper published in Diabetes Care concluded that low levels of cinnamon (1 to 6 grams per day) reduced glucose, triglycerides, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetic subjects. This study also stated that cinnamon could be used by the healthy population to protect themselves from, and prevent, elevated glucose levels and blood lipid levels. Another study that underlined the connection between cinnamon and diabetes was published in Nutrition Research. It found that cinnamon extract improved fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in 66 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. There have been lab-level studies which show that cinnamon extracts may have potent anti-cancer properties. How Does Cinnamon Act? Phytochemical analysis of cinnamon reveals that it has many chemicals which have potent bioactivity. The chemicals contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer and an Continue reading >>
Can Taking Cinnamon Supplements Lower Your Blood Sugar?
A slew of supplements on the market claim to help reduce blood sugar levels and cut the risk of heart attack for people with diabetes . Garlic, magnesium and coenzyme Q10 are among the most common that people try. But it may surprise you to know that an old favorite — cinnamon — is getting more attention. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy While results are still unclear, there have been some small studies about cinnamon and blood sugar that show promising results. However, to date, there isn’t strong enough evidence to recommend cinnamon to people with diabetes for medicinal purposes. Cinnamon, a spice made from tree bark, is often touted for its potential medicinal properties. People have tried cinnamon to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and fight bacteria. For more than a decade, researchers have been working to understand if it can help people with diabetes. Numerous studies have looked at this issue, and some have found no benefit at all from cinnamon. Other small studies have found that cinnamon can lower levels of glucose , cholesterol and triglycerides (fat in the blood). Here’s a sampling of small studies that show a potential benefit for taking cinnamon: In a small study in Diabetes Care, 30 people with type 2 diabetes were split into three groups taking 1 gram, 3 grams or 6 grams of cinnamon supplements daily. Thirty other people took a placebo. After 40 days, everyone taking cinnamon had lower glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. The placebo group saw no change. A more recent study in Nutrition Research analyzed 69 patients Continue reading >>
Cinnamon For Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all cases of diabetes. In this form of the disease, which occurs most often in children and young adults, the body does not produce any insulin; people with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Some evidence suggests that cinnamon might help people with the much more common type 2 diabetes (in which the pancreas still produces insulin, but cells become resistant to it), but not those with type 1. The first study suggesting that cinnamon might help control blood sugar (and cholesterol) was published in the December, 2003, issue of Diabetes Care. Done in Pakistan, it ran for only 40 days and included 60 patients with type 2 diabetes. It showed that one, three, or six grams of cinnamon daily, divided into two doses (that amounts to between a quarter of a teaspoon to one teaspoon a day), lowered fasting glucose by 18 to 29 percent, triglycerides by 23 to 30 percent, LDL cholesterol by 7 to 27 percent, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26 percent. Since that first small study made news nearly seven years ago, other researchers have tried to confirm its findings. A German study published in 2006 compared effects in 79 patients with type 2 diabetes, half of whom took a placebo and half of whom received 3 grams of cinnamon daily for four months. Fasting glucose levels dropped by about 7 percent more in the cinnamon group, but the researchers saw no difference between the two groups in LDL or HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or average blood sugar over the four-month period. An even smaller study published in 2006 found no improvements due to cinnamon, and in 2008, the journal Diabetes Care published an analysis of all the cinnamon studies and found no improvements in blood su Continue reading >>
Cinnamon And Diabetes: Effect On Blood Sugar And Overall Health
People with diabetes often face dietary restrictions to control their blood sugar and prevent complications. Although research is in a preliminary stage, cinnamon may help fight some symptoms of diabetes. It is also unlikely to cause blood pressure spikes, or disrupt blood sugar. So, people with diabetes who miss a sweet pop of flavor may find that cinnamon is a good replacement for sugar. Can cinnamon affect blood sugar? Cinnamon has shown promise in the treatment of blood sugar, as well as some other diabetes symptoms. Research on the effects of cinnamon on blood sugar in diabetes is mixed and in the early stages. Most studies have been very small, so more research is necessary. People with diabetes who are interested in herbal remedies, however, may be surprised to learn that doctors are serious about the potential for cinnamon to address some diabetes symptoms. A 2003 study published in Diabetes Care, compared the effects of a daily intake of 1, 3, and 6 grams (g) of cinnamon with a group that received a placebo for 40 days. All three levels of cinnamon intake reduced blood sugar levels and cholesterol. The effects were seen even 20 days after participants were no longer taking cinnamon. A small 2016 study of 25 people, published in the Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology, found that cinnamon may be beneficial for people with poorly controlled diabetes. Participants consumed 1 g of cinnamon for 12 weeks. The result was a reduction in fasting blood sugar levels. However, a 2013 study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine had a different result. The study, which used a more reliable method, had slightly more participants, at 70. The researchers found that 1 g of cinnamon per day for 30 days and 60 days offered no improvements in blo Continue reading >>
Does Cinnamon Conflict With Metformin?
I've heard that cinnamon helps control blood sugar. How much truth is there to this, and would it in any way conflict with me taking metformin? Continue reading >>
Can Cinnamon Improve Blood Sugar Control?
Video of the Day The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 24 million people have type 2 diabetes and it is the seventh leading cause of death. Lifestyle interventions are needed to lower incidence and mortality from type 2 diabetes. All avenues of treatment and prevention need to be explored. Cinnamon and cinnamon extract could be used as a complementary and alternative medicine to prevent diabetes and in diabetes management. A meta-analysis of eight randomized place-controlled clinical trials in the “Journal of Medicinal Food” found that cinnamon and cinnamon abstract lowered fasting blood glucose. Blood sugar dropped on average by about one-half a point, and decreases ranged from about one-third to three-quarters of a point. Two Grams of Cinnamon A clinical trial with 58 people with type 2 diabetes involved the administration of 2g of cinnamon over 12 weeks. Patients who took cinnamon along with their prescribed medication had significantly lower average blood glucose levels at the end of 12 weeks compared to patients who took only their prescribed medication. Average blood glucose dropped from about 189 to 180 mg per deciliter of blood with the addition of 2g of cinnamon. Healthy individuals may benefit from cinnamon supplementation. Three grams of cinnamon given daily over a two-week period improved the body’s response to the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. Effects of cinnamon on controlling glucose were seen on the same day. More Research is Needed Per research, 2 to 3g of cinnamon per day can significantly improve fasting blood glucose and the body’s response to insulin. Improvements, however, are not long term and stop as soon as cinnamon supplementation is stopped. There is limited research on cinnamon and the mechanism by which i Continue reading >>
Does Cinnamon Help Diabetes?
It’s fine to sprinkle cinnamon on your oatmeal or use it in baking. Go ahead and enjoy it if you like its taste. But if you hope that it will help you manage your diabetes, you might want to pause before you head to your spice rack. It's not yet clear if cinnamon is good for diabetes. Research findings have been mixed, and the American Diabetes Association dismisses cinnamon’s use in diabetes treatment. Several small studies have linked cinnamon to better blood sugar levels. Some of this work shows it may curb blood sugar by lowering insulin resistance. In one study, volunteers ate from 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon for 40 days. (One gram of ground cinnamon is about half a teaspoon.) The researchers found that cinnamon cut cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar levels by 24%. But in other studies, the spice did not lower blood sugar or cholesterol levels. Unless you have liver damage, it should be OK for you to enjoy it in food. If you do have liver problems, be careful, because large amounts of cinnamon may make them worse. you might like If you are considering cinnamon supplements, talk with your doctor first, especially if you take any medication. Also, look for brands labeled with a quality seal. These include the NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, or Consumerlab seal. This helps assure that the supplement actually has the ingredients stated on the label and doesn't have any contaminants or potentially harmful ingredients. Unlike medications, supplement makers don't have to prove their products are safe or effective. But the FDA can order a supplement off the market if it proves it's unsafe. Use caution if you also take other supplements that lower blood sugar levels, including: Bitter melon Devil's claw Fenugreek Garlic Horse chestnut Panax Siberian ginseng The s Continue reading >>
Cinnamon Can Help Lower Blood Sugar, But One Variety May Be Best
If I say cinnamon, you say ... sugar? It's a popular combination, of course. But if you're interested in the health-promoting effects of cinnamon, you may want to think anew about the spice. For instance, says John Critchley, executive chef at Bourbon Steak Restaurant in Washington, D.C., why not add it to savory dishes? He uses cinnamon to create a spice and herb rub for lamb loin. He also whips up a great spinach salad with raisins, pine nuts and cinnamon. Critchley is a fan of the intense aromatics in cinnamon, especially in Saigon — a cousin of the cassia varieties of cinnamon most commonly used in the U.S. and Europe. And he says adding cinnamon to spice blends is a great way to layer flavors when you're cooking. And when you start to look at the potential health-promoting effects of the spice, there's even more incentive to experiment with it in the kitchen. Cinnamon comes from the bark of trees. It has long been considered a medicinal plant. There are several varieties, harvested from southern China to Southeast Asia. For years, there have been hints that adding cinnamon to your diet can help control blood sugar. And a recent spate of studies adds to the evidence that the effect is real. "Yes, it does work," says Paul Davis, a research nutritionist with the University of California, Davis. He authored a recent meta-analysis published in the Journal of Medicinal Food that concluded that cinnamon lowers fasting blood glucose. "According to our results, it's a modest effect of about 3 to 5 percent," Davis says. This is about the level of reduction found in the older generation of diabetes drugs, he says. That makes the findings of interest not just to the 25 million Americans who already have diabetes, but also to the 80 million other people — nearly 1 in 4 of u Continue reading >>
Diabetes Treatment: Can Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar?
Is it true that cinnamon can lower blood sugar in people who have diabetes? Answers from M. Regina Castro, M.D. Whether cinnamon can lower blood sugar is a topic of debate — but some research suggests that cinnamon may be helpful as a supplement to regular diabetes treatment in people with type 2 diabetes. A 2012 review of several recent studies concluded that the use of cinnamon had a potentially beneficial effect on glycemic control. One study published in 2009 found that a 500 mg capsule of cinnamon taken twice a day for 90 days improved hemoglobin A1C levels — a reflection of average blood sugar level for the past two to three months — in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (hemoglobin A1C levels greater than 7 percent). More research is needed to confirm these findings and determine how cinnamon supplementation could lead to these benefits. One theory is that cinnamon increases insulin action. If you have diabetes, remember that treatment is a lifelong commitment of blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, regular exercise and, sometimes, diabetes medications or insulin therapy. Consult your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your diabetes treatment plan. Continue reading >>
How Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar And Fights Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease characterized by abnormally high blood sugar. If poorly controlled, it can lead to complications like heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage (1). Treatment often includes medications and insulin injections, but many people are also interested in foods that can help lower blood sugar. One such example is cinnamon, a commonly used spice that's added to sweet and savory dishes around the world. It provides many health benefits, including the ability to lower blood sugar and help manage diabetes. This article tells you everything you need to know about cinnamon and its effects on blood sugar control and diabetes. Cinnamon is an aromatic spice derived from the bark of several species of Cinnamomum trees. While you may associate cinnamon with rolls or breakfast cereals, it has actually been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and food preservation. To obtain cinnamon, the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees must be removed. The bark then undergoes a drying process that causes it to curl up and yield cinnamon sticks, or quills, which can be further processed into powdered cinnamon. Several different varieties of cinnamon are sold in the US, and they are typically categorized by two different types: Ceylon: Also called "true cinnamon," it's the most expensive type. Cassia: Less expensive and found in most food products containing cinnamon. While both types are sold as cinnamon, there are important differences between the two, which will be discussed later in this article. Cinnamon is made from the dried bark of Cinnamomum trees and is generally categorized into two varieties. A quick glance at cinnamon's nutrition facts may not lead you to believe that it's a superfood (2). But while it doesn't contain a lot of vitamins or minerals, it d Continue reading >>
