Ceylon cinnamon

[Sulfate]

Hi I have been reading lately about the benefits of cinnamon for lowering blood sugar levels.

I have started taking a supplement about 3 weeks ago and my fasting blood sugars are now on average 5.3 often lower and only half a dozen times higher than 5.5.
I just wondered if anyone else has tried cinnamon or know anything about its use and blood sugar?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I just wondered if anyone else has tried cinnamon or know anything about its use and blood sugar?

I use it quite often in my coffee. But just for the flavour. As far as I remember it's not thought to have any significant effect on blood sugar (there were some small studies suggesting it did but when larger trials were done the effects disappeared).

 

[grovesy]

I used it many years ago but did not notice any difference, in my blood sugars.

 

[Lauren]

As far as I'm aware (and forgive my ignorance if I'm wrong), there have been no successful studies showing this impact on blood sugar. I do remember it being talked about a lot ten or so years ago though, back when I was training to be a pharmacy technician.
My BIL, who was a teenager at the time, told me to eat more cinnamon and it would cure my Type 1. I've heard this well-meant advice from others too, over the years. Sadly this has not worked for me yet!!

 

[silver minion]

I often add cinnamon to fruit or yoghurt or some baked goods. Firstly because I like the taste, secondly I can reduce any added sugar and finally it disguises the taste of ground almonds which I use as a flour substitute. My hubby is not fond of almonds.
Never tried the supplement and not generally a fan of them. But if you find it's working for you that's fine.

 

[Drummer]

I use quite a few spices and herb in my cooking - cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, all spice, parsley, thyme, marjoram, oregano, savoury - I used to grow the herbs in the garden and had ginger growing in the conservatory, but could never grow mint down here on the South coast though it was rampant in the Midlands. I used mostly dried now.
As I have always used them, perhaps it aided in getting my blood glucose levels out of the diabetes range in just 80 days. My HbA1c went from 91 to 47 in that time.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It’s unlikely to be having much if any effect based on research trials @Sulfate

I’d be wary of anyone selling supplements of “special kinds” of cinnamon at a premium.

There’s a round-up of research for and against here, which also includes DUK’s position that there is insufficient evidence that it’s helpful.

No, cinnamon is not ‘the best remedy in the world' to treat diabetes – Full Fact

An Instagram video claims that a “cinnamon ritual” can be used instead of conventional medicine to control blood sugar.

fullfact.org

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @Sulfate, I too had heard of the suggested benefits but doing some online research found that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims. That doesn't mean they are not true but I do have cinnamon regularly on my breakfast mix and my BG in the morning after breakfast only falls to around 5 if I actually do some exercise.Others may have some better experiences but as others have said, the actual tests have not shown any repeatable benefits.
One thing I am aware of is that while Ceylon cinnamon is considered healthy, there are other varieties (Saigon Cinnamon and some Chinese versions) which can be dangerous if taken in overly large amounts (greater than 1 teaspoon per day). These types of cinnamon are high in coumarin which can be toxic to the liver. You need to make sure that supplements properly label the source of the cinnamon that they use.