Cinnamon, a common spice, has shown promise in the treatment of type II diabetes.
Cinnamon, the dried and ground bark of an evergreen tree that grows in the tropics, may have greater benefits than anyone could ever have imagined. Although it has been used as a natural remedy for hundreds of years, recent studies support the contention that cinnamon may prove to be a key component in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Since the publication of a study conducted by the Agricultural Research Unit in Maryland in 2000, there has been a lot of interest in cinnamon’s therapeutic value in enhancing the effects of insulin on the body.
One of the chemical compounds in cinnamon, hydroxychalcone, has been shown to lower blood glucose levels, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, prompting some experts to recommend the addition of a daily dose of cinnamon to the diet of diabetics.
Although additional research is required, it is believed that cinnamon augments the ability of fat cells to absorb glucose and remove it from the bloodstream. Studies with mice have been very encouraging, and human testing is underway.
Commonly afflicting people in middle to old age, Type 2 diabetes develops slowly and is marked by a gradual increase in insulin resistance. Typically it is treated with diet modification, supplemented by insulin or related drugs if necessary. As the baby boomer generation ages, more and more people will be diagnosed with this illness, and finding a safe and economical treatment is of growing interest to the medical community.
One of the key advantages to using cinnamon or a cinnamon derivative to help in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes is that it does not have the inherent risks of insulin inhalers or injection. There are also side benefits, in that cinnamon supplements are also showing promise in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, kidney disorders, and even help to combat infection.
Before making any changes to your current treatment, check with your healthcare provider. It is possible that self-medicating with cinnamon may cause a precipitous drop in glucose levels if you are currently taking prescribed diabetes medications like insulin or sulfonylureas.
Many herbal remedies are being reevaluated as possible aids in the treatment of illness. Cinnamon is the latest in a long list of herbs and spices that have been shown to provide surprising benefits in the treatment if disease. If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, or know someone who has, explore the possibility of cinnamon as an aid in treatment. You might just discover that the answer to your problem was right in your spice rack all along.
