Cinnamon and Diabetes

Cinnamon for diabetes can control glucose level by nourishing digestive system and effectively support glucose metabolism. Cinnamon is best suitable for obesity-related diabetes and hyperlipedemia.

What is Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of the tree of genus Cinnamomum, which is useful for both sweet and savory foods. Cinnamon trees are native to South-East Asia.

Cinnamon is harvested after grown for 2 years then coppicing it. Once it was cut done, in the next year, many shoots will grow from the roots. From the harvested branches remove the outer bark, and then beating the branch evenly can loosen the inner bark. The outer woody portions of the branches are discarded and only the inner bark of thin (0.5 mm or 0.020 inch) layers of one-meter long cinnamon strips that roll down on drying. After drying, the bark is cut into 5 to 10 cm (or 2.0 to 3.9 inch) lengths for sale.

Cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice; it is also useful in the preparation of chocolate, especially in Mexico.

Diabetes Cinnamon (Cinnamomun zeylanicum)

Diabetes cinnamon is now the subject of numerous studies for its ability to support healthy glucose metabolism. It remains a warming circulatory tonic, as well as a time-honored digestive aid to soothe upset stomach, gas, bloating and occasional indigestion.

Its natural compounds can help maintain both healthy blood-sugar and cholesterol levels. Common Names of cinnamon: Cassia, Cassia Cinnamon, Chinese Cinnamon, Rou Gui (Mandarin).

The sweet tasty spice cinnamon can be added about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon to foods and beverages such as coffee, tea and breakfast cereal. It increases the tastes of apple and pumpkin dishes, including puddings and applesauce.

Cinnamon tea recipe - Break cinnamon stick into pieces, boil it with water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Dilute it if needed with hot water, enhance the taste it with natural sweetener (Stevia).
Otherwise, add cinnamon stick in any tea while it steeps to add flavor and health benefits.

Bioactive constituents of cinnamon - Various terpenoids found in the volatile oil of cinnamon are eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, which believed to have many medicinal effects. Cinnamaldehyde is potent anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-allergic, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic.

Suggested Cinnamon diabetes dosage -Recommended dose of ground cinnamon bark are 1 to 4 g daily and Cinnamon oil dose of 0.05 to 0.2 g daily.

Cinnamon Diabetes Safety - Widely used food spice, grounded cinnamon bark is considered safe. However, cinnamon's essential oil is much more concentrated than the powdered cinnamon. High doses of cinnamon oil might depress the central nervous system. It is advisable that pregnant women should avoid taking cinnamon oil or high doses of the bark.

Cinnamon Diabetes Studies

1. Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA1c, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2. This study is conducted by B.Mang, M.Wolters, B.Schmitt, K.Kelb, R.Lichtinghagen, D.O.Stichtenoth, A.Hahn. This study result show, the cinnamon extracts seem to have a moderate effect in reducing fasting plasma glucose concentrations in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control.
2. A Hydroxychalcone Derived from Cinnamon Functions as a Mimetic for Insulin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. This study is conducted by Karalee J. Jarvill-Taylor, PhD, Richard A. Anderson, PhD and Donald J. Graves, PhD at Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (K.J.J.-T., D.J.G.) Human Nutrition Research Center, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705 (R.A.A.). This study result shows that the MHCP is an effective mimetic of insulin. MHCP may be useful in the treatment of insulin resistance and in the study of the pathways leading to glucose utilization in cells.
3. Changes in glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of daily cinnamon ingestion in healthy humans, By Solomon TP, Blannin AK at Exercise Metabolism Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. solomot@ccf.org. This study result show, cinnamon may improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, but the effects are quickly reversable.
4. An effect of short-term cinnamon ingestion on in vivo glucose tolerance, this study is conducted by Solomon TP, Blannin AK at School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. This study result show that cinnamon spice supplementation may be important to in vivo glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity in humans, and not only are its effects immediate; they also appear to be sustain for 12 hours.
5. Effects of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on body composition and features of the metabolic syndrome in pre-diabetic men and women. This study is conducted by Ziegenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, Mendel RW, Landis J, Anderson RA at Ohio Research Group, Wadsworth Medical Center, Wadsworth, OH. This study result show, the efficacy of Cinnulin PF(R) supplementation on reducing fasting-blood-glucose (FBG) and systolic-blood-pressure (SBP), and improving body composition in men and women with the metabolic syndrome and suggest that this naturally-occurring spice can reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. You can visit Pubmed (National Center for Biotechnology Information) for further information.
6. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes; this study is conducted by Khan A, Safdar M, Khan MMA, Khattak K, and Anderson R. and Published in Diabetes Care. 2003;26:3215-3218. The results of this study indicate that a wide range of cinnamon intakes may be beneficial in reducing the risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors suggest that cinnamon may also be beneficial to the non-diabetic population for preventing and controlling elevated glucose-level and blood-lipid concentrations. You can visit American Botanical Council for further information.
7. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-a polymers from cinnamon with insulin-like biological activity, this study is conducted by Anderson R, Broadhurst CL, Polansky M, et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2004; 52:65-70. This study result show that compounds present in cinnamon may have beneficial effects on glucose, insulin, and blood-lipids and may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. You can visit American Botanical Council for further information.

Cinnamon Supplement Benefits - Medicinal Uses

Studies show Cinnamon is useful

• to alleviate indigestion, stomach cramps, intestinal spasms, nausea, flatulence, and it improves the appetite, and treat diarrhea.
• obesity-related diabetes,
• Hyperlipidemia,
• Ability to stop yeast infections,
• An anti-clotting effect on the blood,
• Boosts cognitive function and memory
• Great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium 
• Cinnamon has a possible effect in lowering plasma glucose levels in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. However, clinicians are refraining from recommending cinnamon supplementation in place of the lifestyle modifications, oral anti-diabetic agents, and insulin-therapy.
• Reduce leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
• Cinnamon prevents nervous tension, helps to treat headache, asthma, excessive menstruation, uterus disorders and gonnorhea.

Treatment procedure for Cinnamon diabetes

Diabetes cinnamon is believed to be effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes without any major known side effects. Still do not give up your diabetes conventional medications; take the cinnamon along with it until the glucose level in blood reaches normal. Then slowly reduce the dosage of the conventional medicine and finally discard if possible. For type 1 diabetes, you can take the cinnamon along with insulin therapy, in a due course, you may be able to reduce insulin shot’s requirement.