Honey and cinnamon are two types of foods with medicinal properties that may lower your risk of diabetes and diabetic complications. Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar and multiple complications that involve high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, foot ulcers, loss of vision and hearing and damage to your nervous system. Consult your doctor about using honey and cinnamon as remedies for diabetes.
Honey Reduces Risk Factors
Over 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by cellular resistance to insulin and associated with being overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetics have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Increased weight and cardiovascular disease are also risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes among people with prediabetes and insulin resistance, conditions characterized by high levels of blood sugar, but not quite high enough to be considered diabetic. Eating natural honey can reduce the risk of diabetes and diabetes complications, particularly increased weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Research by scientists at Mashhad University of Medical Science in Mashhad, Iran, and published in the "Scientific World Journal" in 2008 discovered consumption of natural honey reduces body weight, body fat, fasting blood glucose and cardiovascular risk factors, especially in individuals with elevated risk factors.
Honey Treatment of Foot Ulcers
Honey is an effective treatment of foot ulcers, which is a common complication among diabetics. If left untreated, the wounds could develop gangrene and require amputation. Research by scientists at Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt, and published in "Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice" in September 2010 found that clover honey is a clinical and cost effective treatment for healing diabetic foot ulcers. The results demonstrate that honey significantly reduces the amount of bacterial load on foot ulcers, which can decrease the risk of infection.
Cinnamon Reduces Blood Sugar
Eating cinnamon with your meals may reduce your blood sugar levels. Research by scientists at the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, and published in the September/October issue of the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine" in 2009 found that cinnamon lowers HbA1C in type 2 diabetic patients. HbA1C, also called hemoglobin A1c or the glycosylated hemoglobin, is a measurement of blood sugar during the past 6 to 12 weeks.
Cinnamon Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
Cinnamon has medicinal properties that may reduce the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, a condition associated with insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar and cholesterol and increased weight gain. Research by scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, and published in the "Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology" in May 2010 reports that in vitro, animal and human studies demonstrate that cinnamon improves blood sugar and cholesterol, reduces inflammation, enhances antioxidant activity and reduces weight. The scientists conclude cinnamon may prevent and alleviate the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetes; 2010
- American Diabetes Association; Complications; 2010
- "Scientific World Journal"; Natural Honey and Cardiovascular Risk Factors; Effects on Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, Triacylglycerole, CRP, and Body Weight Compared with Sucrose; N. Yaghoobi, et al.; 2008
- "Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice"; The Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of Bee Honey Dressing in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers; A.M. Moghazy, et al.; Sep 2010
- "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine"; Effectiveness of Cinnamon for Lowering Hemoglobin A1c in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial; Paul Crawford; Sep-Oct 2009
- Cleveland Clinic; Glycolated Hemoglobin Test (Hba1c) for Diabetes; 2010
