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Cinnamon for Type II Diabetes
My husband has just been diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Are there any foods he can introduce into his diet to better help control his fluctuating blood sugar levels?
Probably the last thing you will expect me to suggest is an everyday spice most people only think of as a topping for their early morning latte en route to work, but new research suggests that even a modest intake of cinnamon each day can help patients with Type II diabetes, who are not on insulin therapy, control blood sugar levels.
In a recent trial conducted by Khan et al, and published in the journal Diabetes Care 2003; 26 some 60 Type II diabetes patients, with an average age of 52 years, were randomly assigned to receive 1g, 3g, or 6g of cinnamon or a placebo pill for 40 days.
The researchers reported that all three cinnamon dosages reduced blood sugar levels, as well as cholesterol levels, in those patients taking the spice and that no significant changes were noted among the placebo group.
While test-tube studies have shown that cinnamon appears to increase the uptake of glucose (blood sugar) the authors of this study suggest it can also help trigger the insulin cascade which is the name given to the series of complex biochemical actions stimulated by insulin. Even better, this is an inexpensive and safe-to-use remedy that will not interfere with other medication.
Bioharmony’s Cinnamon costs £14.95 for 60 veggie capsules. Mail order from Revital (0800 252875). If you want to use the fresh herb, take the equivalent of 1 teaspoon a day.