For a long time, researchers have thought that different foods and spices could be used to help treat diabetes. Studies have shown that spices like cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves and turmeric all show promise in helping enhance the ability of the body to handle insulin. Cinnamon in particular may be especially equipped to improve glucose levels for those with Type 2 diabetes, and it also may improve cholesterol levels. Long term problems that can result from elevated glucose levels include eye health issues, kidney health issues and more.
Cinnamon can improve the way the body metabolizes glucose. It can also improve the overall condition of the bodies of those of us with diabetes, from improving cholesterol metabolism, getting rid of free radicals in the blood that can damage arteries, and improve how small blood vessels function. The studies show that cinnamon extracts can increase glucose metabolism and therefore trigger the release of insulin into the blood stream. This also affects cholesterol metabolism at the same time.
In order to get these benefits from cinnamon, however, you will need to ingest more of it than just a sprinkle on your toast in the morning. For best results, you may want to go to the local health food store or pharmacy and look for a bottle of cinnamon extract or cinnamon capsules, or you can try adding it to tea throughout the day and find other ways to work cinnamon into your food. In one study, people that took about one half of a teaspoon of cinnamon every day for 40 days saw significant results. If you have Type 2 diabetes and are looking for something to incorporate into your diet that may help with keeping a good handle on the disease, then you may want to talk to your doctor about using the cinnamon diabetes treatment.