Studies show that including cinnamon in your type 2 diabetes diet could significantly lower your blood sugar level, helping you to control your condition. In a world where this disease is an ever increasing problem, many people are seeking natural remedies to help them control their type 2 diabetes. Diet changes and supplements play a major role in this process.
- Cinnamon Reduces Blood Sugar in a Number of Ways
Cinnamon reduces blood sugar in three ways. Firstly it stimulates insulin production, secondly it increases the effectiveness of insulin receptors, and finally, as recent studies show, it slows the emptying of the stomach after eating. When the stomach empties quickly after a meal, this causes a rapid rise in blood sugar level, so slowing this process can help type 2 diabetics to control their condition.
- Should Cinnamon Buns Feature In My Type 2 Diabetes Diet?
The effects of cinnamon on blood sugar were discovered by accident at the Maryland Human Nutrition Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture. When routine tests into the effects of certain foods came up with the surprising result that apple pie lowered blood sugar, some further investigation was needed. They quickly discovered that cinnamon was the active ingredient which caused the decrease in blood sugar level.
This does not mean that cinnamon buns, cakes and apple pie should become a regular part of type 2 diabetes diets. The amount of sugar and fat found in these delicacies will outweigh the positive effects of the cinnamon. Instead include cinnamon in your diabetes diets by adding it to the healthy foods you eat.
Cinnamon can easily be added to wholemeal toast, low fat bagels and cereals. Some people even find soaking a cinnamon stick in their tea can have an impact on their blood sugar.
- Studies Show a 20% Decrease in Blood Sugar Levels
The original studies into the impact of including cinnamon in diabetes diets took place in Pakistan. Two groups of type 2 diabetics were monitored, with one group taking 6g capsules of cinnamon after eating, and the other group taking a placebo. The group taking cinnamon experienced a 20% reduction in blood sugar level compared with the control group. Their blood sugar levels began to creep up again as soon as the study was over and they stopped taking the cinnamon.
More recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, compares two groups of healthy volunteers. Both groups ate 300g of rice pudding a day, but one group added 6g of cinnamon to theirs. Their blood sugars were measured two hours after eating, and the rate at which their stomachs emptied was measured using ultrasonography.
The group that ate plain rice pudding had significantly higher blood sugar than the group that ate cinnamon, and their stomachs emptied much quicker which contributed to the high blood sugar levels. The group that ate cinnamon experienced significantly slower stomach emptying as well as lower blood sugar.
- Limits to the Effectiveness of Cinnamon
For cinnamon to be really effective as part of a type 2 diabetes diet, you need to eat large quantities which may have an impact on your liver over time. It is not recommended for pregnant women and should not be used to treat gestational diabetes. Because cinnamon works to increase the effectiveness of insulin, it cannot be used to treat type 1 diabetes, where no insulin is produced in the first place.
Cinnamon can be an effective addition to type 2 diabetes diets, and when used long term it can help to control blood sugar levels. It can also be used to lower cholesterol, to treat nausea and vomiting, and to prevent colds and gastrointestinal spasms. Although it is effective at lowering blood sugar, it should not replace a healthy and varied diet, regular exercise, and professional medical advice
By: Lisa Janse
Posts Tagged ‘Diabetes Type 2’
Diabetes Type 2 – Eating Cinnamon Can Control Your Type 2 Diabetes
April 17th, 2010Diabetes Types – What You Should Know About the Three Diabetes Types
March 29th, 2010
Diabetes cases were surprisingly doubled within the past ten years. Some are not aware that they are already victims of this traitor disease. There are three diabetes types namely type 1 (known as “childhood”, “juvenile” or “insulin-dependent” Diabetes), type 2 (formerly called non-insulin dependent diabetes), and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease as a result of the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Cases are common among children and early adults. Symptoms may include excessive thirst and hunger and frequent urination, which will later result into weight loss and extreme fatigue. This condition can be considered as life threatening if not diagnosed in an early time. Individuals suffering from this, need adequate insulin supply commonly delivered thru injection. Modified diet and healthy life style would also help.
Of the three diabetes types, type 2 diabetes marks the highest in the list with roughly 90 percent of the cases. Obesity is considered as the main cause of the cases. Some factors that constitute to this are old age, family history, physical environment, and previous history of gestational diabetes. In this case, the human body refuses to use the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a natural enzyme, which regulate blood sugar. Symptoms include unusual thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, vision impairment, infection and slow healing and swelling of wounds. In some cases there are no symptoms that can be observed in the early stage. Strict diet and proper observation should be given to the victim.
The third one is gestational diabetes, which are experienced by pregnant women. Test shows that women having this are producing an abnormal amount of glucose in the blood during pregnancy. The situation will cause growth abnormalities and chemical imbalance to the babies. Victims have high risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. Offspring may also ten to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes. Blood test during pregnancy should be taken to have proper medication if symptoms can be discovered.
Diabetes can be dealt with if diagnosed in an early time. There are appropriate medical procedures given knowing the three diabetes types. Awareness and advances in medicine can reduce the risk that is caused by this condition. Since this disease is incurable at this time, strong self-discipline and a strict healthy lifestyle are undoubtedly the temporary remedy one should take.
By: Tessa Watson
Diabetes Cure – Can Diabetes Be Cured Or Not
March 23rd, 2010
What is Diabetes?
The failure of the biological mechanism for regulating blood sugar, where there is insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas is what causes diabetes. The increase in blood sugar is what characterises this disease. The Three Major Types of Diabetes are Type1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes.
Do You Have Diabetes
It is not very easy to recognize the outward symptoms of Diabetes as they may be subtle. Some of the most common symptoms are the increased frequency of urination especially in the middle of the night, you constantly will feel hungry and thirsty, and sores heal very slowly, weight loss, Blur vision. As diabetes increase the glucose levels in your blood you may also feel fatigued, because this increase will not allow the food to ingest to be converted to energy,While People claim there are cures to Diabetes and I hope to god there may be, it important controlling your diabetes with the following steps will help.
1.You need to control your weight and it should be you number one objective, when your overweight you body cannot make and control the insulin, and insulin control the glucose in the blood. So consult with your doctor and check the ideal weight.
2.If you are overweight this goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyways you have to exercise, I am not talking of a gruelling workout or something a good 20 to 30 min of brisk walking everyday will be a great start.
3.You should invest in a good diabetes testing gadgets and check your blood sugar levels; this will especially help you when you eat certain types of foods that affect your diabetes.
4.Fresh fruits and vegetable should replace the potato chips fried foods etc. Your doctor will give you what foods to eat and what foods to stay away from, follow it and eat healthy.
There are people who claim that diabetes can be cured and Science promises that a diabetes cure may be around, and while I have seen a couple of cases, I am still not sure if this is really true but if it is it will be a blessing for millions around the world.
By: Herman M Dias
