Article by Michael Dinsmore

The idea of cinnamon and diabetes as a good, healthful combination is a fairly new idea. Researchers have recently found that cinnamon may help diabetics regulate their blood sugar.

Understanding the Disease

If you’ve had diabetes for a while you probably understand the basic concept of the diseases. Diabetes occurs in individuals who cannot produce or regulate insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps people breakdown sugars. When a person’s body doesn’t produce insulin, it’s because the body attacks cells in the pancreas. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is most common in children. Type 1 diabetes generally isn’t hereditary. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and can occur at nearly any age. Type 2 diabetes is frequently hereditary so if your family members have Type 2 diabetes, you should be aware that you’re more susceptible to the disease.

How Does it Work?

When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, their doctor puts them on insulin to help regulate their blood sugar. For years it was thought that insulin and diet modifications were the only thing that could help diabetics regulate their health. However, in the last couple of years, researchers have suggested that cinnamon may also help diabetics.

Some research shows that cinnamon regulates cholesterol and blood glucose in diabetic patients. Other studies suggest cinnamon helps regulate triglycerides and fasting glucose. Generally, researchers agree that one gram of cinnamon a day can help diabetics regulate some essential body functions.

Cinnamon has an active ingredient called hydroxychalcone, which is believed to aid the effects of insulin on the body. Hydroxychalcone is believed to make insulin in a person’s body more reactive and sensitive, causing the insulin to encourage glycogen synthesis. Typically researchers suggest that diabetic with Type 2 diabetes use Chinese cinnamon or Cinnamomum aromaticum to help with their diabetes.

Many people associate cinnamon with sweet treats, such as Snickerdoodle cookies. Obviously, this is a problem for diabetics since they’re supposed to keep a close eye on sugar and carbohydrate intake. However, there are a lot of other products, such as cinnamon gum or mouthwash that can be used. Cinnamon and diabetes won’t solve all problems associated with diabetes, but it can help regulate stimulate insulin.