Cinnamon & the Glycemic Index
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The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly your blood glucose will rise after consuming a carbohydrate. A carbohydrate with a high glycemic index raises your blood glucose more rapidly than those with a medium or low index. Preventing highs and lows in blood glucose is crucial for diabetics. Cinnamon may have an effect on maintaining blood sugar levels and avoiding those sudden drops and spikes.
Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association estimates that more than 23 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. It is often a leading cause of premature death and costs more than $174 billion to treat. While there are two types of diabetes, both are marked by abnormally high levels of blood glucose.
Glucose
Glucose, or blood sugar, is a source of energy for the body. When a carbohydrate is consumed, the body breaks it down into glucose, which is then released into the blood stream. Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, attaches itself to almost all of the cells of the body. As glucose travels through the body, it is received and absorbed by cells which have insulin attached to them. Insulin acts as a gateway for the glucose to pass into the cells and be utilized for energy. Without insulin, the cells in your body would not have the energy they need. In those with diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin or the cells are resistant to it. Therefore the glucose cannot be absorbed by the cells for energy.
Cinnamon
Since 2003, there have been numerous studies focusing on the effects that cinnamon has specifically on blood glucose levels. It has been hypothesized that cinnamon may act like insulin in the body and help the muscles to absorb glucose. Mayoclinic.com reports that some of the studies have shown as much as a 7 percent decrease in blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics, as well as a drop in cholesterol levels. While many studies have shown that ingesting cinnamon lowers blood glucose levels, there are other studies whose results have shown that it has little or no impact. Because of the varied results, using cinnamon as a treatment for controlling blood glucose levels is not yet recommended.
Other Benefits
Although cinnamon is not yet endorsed as a treatment for diabetics, it has been considered a healing food for many cultures since ancient times. The Chinese have used it for centuries to treat the common cough and cold. Cinnamonhealthbenefits.com lists many other suggested health benefits to be gained from consuming it. It is a natural anti-fungal and anti-bacteria, which makes it useful in preventing conditions such as urinary tract or yeast infections. Cinnamon's anti-inflammatory properties are useful for those with arthritis pain. The spice also has many antioxidants, which, along with its blood thinning and anti-inflammatory properties, can be used to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Considerations
Although the use of cinnamon as an adjunct treatment for diabetes is yet to be confirmed, there is little harm in consuming it. The only contraindication noted is that since cinnamon does reduce blood clotting, it should not be consumed by those who are already on blood thinning medications such as Coumadin. Because of the possible link in glucose control along with the long list of other suggested health benefits, you may want to talk to your physician about adding cinnamon supplements to your diabetes treatment regimen.
