While you might think of cinnamon as a flavoring in sweet treats, it has a history of use for therapeutic purposes in traditional Chinese medicine and other ancient systems. It has been touted as a natural treatment for diabetes, one of its traditional uses, and while research indicates it might possess potential, results have been mixed. For this reason, it cannot be definitively regarded as a legitimate treatment for this condition. If you have an interest in managing your diabetes with natural methods, consult your doctor about how it fits in with your treatment plan.
Review of Studies
Because of its history of use for diabetes and the conflicting nature of study conclusions, British researchers at Thames Valley University wanted to take a closer look at recent trials using cinnamon to lower blood glucose levels. They examined studies between January 2003 and July 2008 that involved human subjects and were randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled. A total of eight trials met the criteria, with five involving diabetic patients and three involving nondiabetic patients. Two of the trials testing cinnamon on diabetic patients showed significant drops in fasting glucose levels ranging anywhere from 10.3 percent to 29 percent, while one of the nondiabetic trials produced an average drop of 8.4 percent. The remainder of the trials studying diabetics specifically did not produce significant results.
Cinnamon's Action
According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, cinnamon's potential for lowering blood sugar appears to stem from its ability to decrease insulin resistance. Insulin resistance results when your body's cells reject the action of insulin, which is to move the sugar out of the blood into the cells for energy. When this does not happen as it is supposed to, the sugar remains in the bloodstream. Cinnamon appears to activate the insulin receptor sites on the surface of the cells, which facilitates the removal of sugar from the blood.
Cinnamon and Blood-Sugar-Lowering Drugs
If you take insulin or other drugs to manage your blood sugar, you must use caution when using cinnamon or other natural supplements that potentially demonstrate similar actions. Using them together could cause your blood sugar to drop too low. If you want to experiment with using natural treatments, you must discuss this with your doctor. If cinnamon does work for you, you will likely require dosage adjustments to your prescription medications to compensate for the actions of the herb. Only your doctor can safely make these determinations; do not change your medications on your own.
Other Considerations
Cinnamon might reduce blood-clotting time, which means it could potentially interact with anti-coagulant medications and increase the risk of excessive or prolonged bleeding, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The cancer center also notes that cinnamon has demonstrated estrogenic activity in vitro, meaning it was studied as an isolated component and not in people. Still, if you have a risk of, currently have or have a history of conditions triggered by excess estrogen production, such as breast cancer, you should discuss use with your doctor to determine the risks.
