Diabeties and cinnamon

[kevinpa]

I have read several articles that stated cinnamon can help control blood glucose levels. Has anybody ever had any experience with the cinnamon bark capsules? If so was it positive, negitive or benign.

[Missy]

speaking blood glucose levels...not to hyjack your thread...but, could someone answer me at what's a preferred level?? Below 100?

Let me explain, I'm diagnosed PRE diabetic....and on metformin...but I was never directed to take blood sugar readings...but over the past two weeks, I was curious, so I borrowed a spare blood sugar machine from my parents...and my morning readings have been ranging between 106 -117....I'm unsure if that's okay, decent, or needs improvement?

Perhaps I could add cinnamon and/or the vinager and see if it helps???

Is there an "optimal" number to stay under to improve weight loss success??

[kevinpa]

I am a type 2 diabetic and I am not happy unless my morning fasting number is in the 80's. Also eating LC and staying away from the foods that I know spike my blood glucose levels I rarely go over 125. So far I have been able to discontinue the metformin and control it at these levels with diet and exercising 3 times a day.

[Reverie]

I tried GNC's standardized cinnamon extract starting around Jan this year when I had allowed my fasting numbers to get up around 200 over the holidays. I took one capsule morning and night. But I also take many other supplements, including chromium, alpha lipoic, Cal/Mag/D, fish oil.

It took about 4 months to get down to 101 fasting.

HOWEVER, I rarely change only one thing. I also really stuck with 20-40 grams of carbs daily and I think that is the single most effective way to lower blood sugar.

I had also read many of the studies so I didn't think it could hurt to try it. Sorry my feedback is not very definite about cinnamon.

I am now trying the Insulow product, which is a form of r-alpha lipoic and biotin, since I'm having a hard time avoiding carbs when I eat out and travel. You take a couple of capsules 15 minutes before meals.

[Belfrybat]

I've been doing an experiment with cinnamon and Braggs apple cider vinegar. Haven't changed my eating patterns, except I eat very light at supper. In a two week period, fasting blood sugars went from an average of 120 to high 90's. Since I'm doing both cinnamon and vinegar, I don't know which is helping or if it's the combination of the two. I have the caps, but don't like taking pills, so make cinnamon tea with 1 TBS cinnamon in 2 C boiling water. Strain after 10 mins and add another cup of water to dilute along with a bit of stevia. I drink it several times a day. The vinegar I take in the morning and before dinner.

All I can say is something is working for me and the cinnamon and vinegar are the only changes I've made in the past three weeks.

[Belfrybat]

I am a type 2 diabetic and I am not happy unless my morning fasting number is in the 80's. Also eating LC and staying away from the foods that I know spike my blood glucose levels I rarely go over 125. So far I have been able to discontinue the metformin and control it at these levels with diet and exercising 3 times a day.

Warning -- thread hijack. :slywink: I'm PRE diabetic and my fasting numbers are never that low. That's amazing control for someone who's actually diabetic. Since I'm new at this, I'm always looking for ways to bring the numbers down. I exercise for 30 mins. almost every day but never considered doing it more than once a day. Just curious as to what kinds of exercising are you doing three times a day? And what is the timing as to meal times -- before or after?

[kevinpa]

Just curious as to what kinds of exercising are you doing three times a day? And what is the timing as to meal times -- before or after?

A typical pre-meal set would be 20 min level 2 on my recumbent bike, 200 reps on the abs lounge, using bands (50 each of chest pulls and pushes).

Many times though I will sit down on my bike and start watching the food network and will have gone 1 hr. without realizing it.

I will vary the routine slightly so I don't get bored with it but that is a real good Idea of my daily routine. I stick to that pretty close to 6 out of 7 days a week. Except when life gets in the way, but I make it a point not to let that happen very often at all.

[trainr]

I buy cinnamon in bulk from a local health food store, then use a capsule machine to put it into capsules. I take about 4 grams a day (2 tsp). I've only noticed a tremendous improvement in well-being, and maintained weight without really losing any. I had to go without for a few days and noticed a remarkable decline in mood. I don't monitor glucose or insulin levels, but am self-diagnosed as insulin-resistant.

I plan to add vinegar to this regimen with salads and I'm trying to figure out a weight-loss program that will work for the 30-40 pounds I want to shed.

I highly recommend cinnamon, but I think you may want to research it at the Life Extension Foundation website, www.lef.org (http://www.lef.org).

Good luck.

[gitfiddle]

I put cinnamon in my shakes and berry dishes, but never really paid much attention to the effect on my blood sugar, mostly because I do other supplements and it would be impossible to determine which one is doing what. My question is this:

Someone just informed me that the cinnamon doesn't work unless it is cassis, or contains cassis, or something to that effect. Anybody have any facts on that?

As for blood sugar, I'm type 2 diabetic and my morning fasting count ranges from 98 to 115, depending on what and how late I eat in the evening. Before PP, I remember seeing 167 in the morning. When I was diagnosed, I think it registered 315. PP is VERY good for diabetics!

[LisaS]

there are two (or three) different plant species that are commonly labeled as the spice cinnamon - Cinnamomum cassia (aka Chinese) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (aka Sri Lankan) and sometimes Cinnamomum loureiroi Nees (Vietnamese)

the studies will generally be specific about which species was used.
Mendosa's site has a newsletter where a researcher said that both species were effective in his studies http://www.mendosa.com/newsletter_april.htm (http://www.mendosa.com/newsletter_april.htm)

[gitfiddle]

I see that. I'm going to explore that website further. I haven't been there in years. Thanks, Lisa!