Cinnamon has long been used as a spice to give foods like apple pie a warm and inviting taste and smell. But the uses of cinnamon are starting to extend beyond the culinary spectrum and into the medicinal world. Cinnamon supplements have become more visible at many health food stores touting claims to lower blood sugars and decrease cholesterol. As with all supplements and new diet plans, consult with a physician or registered dietitian before starting to be sure it is an appropriate option for you
Research
The verdict is still out about the role of cinnamon in lowering the blood sugars of diabetics, but studies are starting to suggest a positive effect by the tasty spice. In a study in "Diabetes Care Journal," intakes of cinnamon in even small amounts seemed to lower fasting blood glucose levels of people with type 2 diabetes. The most significant results were seen in people who had poorly controlled diabetes with a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level greater than 7 percent. HbA1C is an indicator of average serum glucose levels over two or three months. In a study published by the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine," participants were given a 1 g dose of cinnamon daily for three months. Results suggest statistical significance of cinnamon-lowering HbA1C levels in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
How Cinnamon Works
How cinnamon works to lower blood glucose levels is still being reviewed. Only a handful of randomized trials have been performed on humans with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon seems to naturally sensitize insulin. Also, it may increase the activity of glucosidase, which is an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates. Another study suggests cinnamon may increase glucose uptake by the body. Nonetheless, there continue to be mixed reviews by studies of both humans and rats about the mechanisms in which cinnamon works to lower blood glucose levels.
Diabetes-associated Risk Factors
Studies also suggest cinnamon intake may decrease risk factors associated with diabetes. Even small amounts of cinnamon added to the diet daily may lower triglycerides, total cholesterol and lipid levels. The mechanism of how cinnamon affects these risk factors in patients with diabetes is still under investigation.
Adding Cinnamon to the Diet
For most people, adding cinnamon to their morning oatmeal or sprinkling some in their coffee is a harmless way to add flavor to their food and possibly help their blood sugars, too. Because some studies suggest improved glucose levels with as little as 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon daily, buying specialty cinnamon pills is probably unnecessary. But regardless of the proposed effects of cinnamon on diabetes, it should not be used as a substitute for healthy eating of a well-balanced, carbohydrate-controlled diet.
