Cinnamon?

[stish]

My mom is a Type 2 diabetic on oral meds for a few years now and is very noncompliant as far as diet. She won't even switch to diet soda from regular and that is just the beginning, she likes her sweets. Still she claims her blood sugar is fine when she checks it and attributes that to taking cinnamon. I was wondering if anyone else has heard that taking cinnamon helps control blood sugar?

[GretchenC]

Yes, I've heard and read that cinnamon can lower blood glucose. Here is a link to an article -

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4413


Is she monitoring her glucose on a daily basis? That's the only way to know for sure if it works for her.

[stish]

Thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out. I am not sure if she checks her blood sugar daily, even if she says she does, it may not be true. Unfortunately she is very inconsistent and noncompliant, plus she doesn't like talking about her diabetes or discussing the topic. It's very frustrating from my side because I would like to help.

[rattitude]

Cinnamon has been shown to help, reducing blood sugar`as much as 20%. But in this case it sounds a little like an excuse to get off the hook. Taking cinnamon doesn't allow a diabetic to eat whatever they like any more than taking insulin does. It's like say because you don't drive drunk you should be allowed to speed--it makes no sense. The benefits cinnamon does have depend on taking at least a teaspoon full every single day--is she doing that?

[Thumperfive]

hmm... I"d never heard of the cinnamon thing but now I'm off to check it out!

and yes, nothing is a sure-fire solution to anything - keep testing and monitoring what you eat!

[stish]

Thanks for the feedback on cinnamon, I do not know if she takes a teaspoon a day or not, I believe she takes it in pill form, and I don't know if it is equivalent to a teaspoon. I agree that it shouldn't give her an excuse to do or eat whatever she wants, but she doesn't listen even after I have showed her pretty nasty pictures of things that can happen to diabetics like ulcers of the feet and bleeding in the eye, so i guess I was just wondering if cinnamon will at least help offset things even a little.

[rattitude]

Only her physician could really say if it is helping her--the effects are somewhat idiosyncratic. But yes, in general it does have therapeutic value.

[stish]

I believe her physician is just so frustrated by her noncompliance that he feels if there is anything that will help, he supports it and doesn't argue, we will take what he can get. I don't know why she is so stubborn or thinks she is the exception.

[brandre]

First, Cinnamon will reduce blood sugar.

It will not reduce it enough that anyone who is diabetic can eat what they want.

I get about a 10-15 point reduction - that means that if I would have been at 145 I will be at 130-135.

I'm a type 2 that is controlling with diet. That means that I am not "real bad" or I would need meds.

Let me give you some reality. If she is as bad as I am (not bad) and she does nothing the road to heart failure, kidney dyalisis, stroke, limb loss and blindness is ASSURED. Unless she gets hit by a truck soon one of these will happen. That is reality.

Too many diabetics are in denial. They have doctors who will not tell them the truth. I was there for 3 weeks till one of my co-workers told me just what I posted above, a BAD END POINT (what they call the above) is certain.

The question is, "what does she want to do?" Does she want to go blind, loose a leg, have a heart attack or stroke or kidney failure? You can't fix it, I can't fix it and her doctor can jaw all he wants to and he can't fix it... SHE CAN... SHE NEEDS HELP.

See if she will go to a diabetes education class. Most ins co's will pay for them. If she is in central pa I know a great one - the one I went to.

If you really love her you will try to wake her up. Buy her a white cane, tell her she will eventually need it. Tell her not being able to eat everything is a drag, but getting by on one leg is even worse. (I have faced that possibility due to a tumor when I was 19 - loosing the leg is worse than dealing with diabetes. Do Anything...

I was doing really well - then 2 months ago my wife had her second surgery and was in ICU in a coma. I nearly lost it one night, going home I was going to forget the eating and have a big mac, fries, coke and milkshake. That would be 400 BGL for me. And it would be minimum 300 for her if the dr says she has diabetes.
My 33 year old daughter called on my cell phone, she didn't knwo what was happening but I knew she was fighting back tears, she had just left her moms room with me and we were headed home separately. She asked if I had eaten, and said, "Dad, with mom sick, we really need you, please take care of yourself."

The big mac idea died... I went home, got a healthy meal... Tell her if she really loves you, you need her....

[brandre]

I believe her physician is just so frustrated by her noncompliance that he feels if there is anything that will help, he supports it and doesn't argue, we will take what he can get. I don't know why she is so stubborn or thinks she is the exception.


He is killing her....

[rattitude]

He is killing her....

Um, give the guy a break. He isn't allowed to force her and he isn't able to persuade her. If the worse happened she did it to herself.

I mean what would you expect him to do? Lock her in his basement and give treatment against her will?

On of the most important responsibilities we have as people with diabetes is to find a good doctor and have a productive, ongoing relationship with them in order to best manage the condtion. But that takes two.

Changing a person's whle outlook takes their cooperation and probably the input of a counsellor or psychologist--not a GP

[Thumperfive]

OT but not really...

how "pure" is this cinnamon? is it what you can get at the store or do you need to find health food stores for the good stuff?

[stish]

I agree with everything you are saying and believe me I have told her about all the possible BAD END POINTS and have showed her pictures, she just doesn't think it will happen to her. I also don't think her doctor is killing her, he has done everything from send her to an endocrinologist, who she refuses to go to, and has called me immediately when her
HbA1c was over 10, adjusted her meds when needed and despite her attitude and noncompliance he sticks with her none the less, when most doctors would not. He at least offered her an alternative (cinnamon) she would try and thankfully it is helping. Her doctor has tried to work with all of us and that is more than what some doctors would do. I agree she needs help, but you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We also suggested diabetic classes, she laughed at us. I hope she comes around someday and despite her ignorance and that she gets mad when I consistently bring it up I continue to do so anyway.

[brandre]

Um, give the guy a break. He isn't allowed to force her and he isn't able to persuade her. If the worse happened she did it to herself.

I mean what would you expect him to do? Lock her in his basement and give treatment against her will?

On of the most important responsibilities we have as people with diabetes is to find a good doctor and have a productive, ongoing relationship with them in order to best manage the condtion. But that takes two.

Changing a person's whle outlook takes their cooperation and probably the input of a counsellor or psychologist--not a GP

Darn straight he can't. But I remember what happened with me... GP's are about as competent to diagnose and treate diabetes as they are to do brain surgery.

[brandre]

I agree with everything you are saying and believe me I have told her about all the possible BAD END POINTS and have showed her pictures, she just doesn't think it will happen to her. I also don't think her doctor is killing her, he has done everything from send her to an endocrinologist, who she refuses to go to, and has called me immediately when her
HbA1c was over 10, adjusted her meds when needed and despite her attitude and noncompliance he sticks with her none the less, when most doctors would not. He at least offered her an alternative (cinnamon) she would try and thankfully it is helping. Her doctor has tried to work with all of us and that is more than what some doctors would do. I agree she needs help, but you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We also suggested diabetic classes, she laughed at us. I hope she comes around someday and despite her ignorance and that she gets mad when I consistently bring it up I continue to do so anyway.


The patient is the most important party in this. But the doctor needs to be a coach on it.

[stish]

I don't know what it is you do for a living, but you need to put yourself in the GP's shoes, I don't think you have the right to group all GP's together or generalize all GP's based on your experience- many are very competent and do go out of their way for their patients, and they deal with many issues on a daily basis and only one of them is Diabetes. You also can not compare treating diabetes to doing brain surgery, although diabetes can be a difficult disease to manage it is no where near the intricacy of brain surgery. I do agree that every case is different and at times complicated, but all physicians, GP's, endocrinologists, podiatrist, etc. all need to work together as a team and that takes effort by everyone including the patient!

[kdarrell]

He is killing her....
I think she should see a different doctor. Someone who will make her sit up and take notice. And you should keep doing what your doing with her and know, that you doing everything in your power to help her.

[rattitude]

Given that the problem is more on her side seeing a psychologist would make more sense. But a person in denial is hardly likely to do either.

[stish]

Believe me I would love if she would see a psychologist, but you are right she is in denial and does refuse, it's just an ongoing battle. I offered to go to diabetic classes with her and I was hoping if I at least got her there maybe she would see and meet more people like her and actually get interested, but I can't get over the hump of even getting her there. I have thought of as many avenues as possible, but she is a stubborn lady.:(

[rattitude]

Good on you for hanging in there. Is there anyone she does seem to listen to that you might be able to have a quiet word with? After a while people just tune you out if they don't want to hear it, but the same message from a new direction might get through ;)

[Dusty]

I don't think I'd go as far as saying her GP is killing her, maybe more like she's doing it to herself. With that said, I don't think many GP's have a clue when it comes to treating diabetics. Mine sent me home with a bg of 414 and instructions to cut back on sweets.

After a lot of research I finally figured out what worked for me.
Sounds like she is still in denial and until she is ready to help herself there's not much you can do.

Maybe fix a few diabetic friendly meals for her so she can see that just because she needs to watch what she eats, she can still eat tasty foods.

[Writeman]

Does Cinnamon help in controling blood sugar as it is informed in the posts here?

If it does help, how it should be taken? Please give the details.

[Serra]

He is killing her....

She is killing herself.

[parise]

Yes I heard that cinnamon was good for your sugar levels as well.

[ladygirl99]

Really? I always thought that cinnamon wasn't consider good for the suger level.

[stish]

I was confused at first too, because I think we associate cinnamon with things that are sweet, but it itself is not, you should reference the article that Gretchen C offered at the beginning of the thread, it was very informative

[parise]

right cinnamon has to have sugar added to it for it to be sweet.

[Dusty]

But you have to realize too that this disease is different with everybody. That's one thing that makes it so frustrating. Just because something works for one person, it may work just the opposite for someone else.

I've read that a lot of people had good results using cinnamon and just as many that it made no difference at all. Only way to really know how anything will effect your bg is to test, test, test, and then test some more. :)

[parise]

How is he killing her?

[bra]

Cinnamon is beneficial in lowering sugar levels.
I read about the spice being good for this use
so I bought some capsules for my partner.

After two weeks of consuming the capsules we did
record an average of 20 points lower. He needs
all the help he can get! He is stubborn too.

As for the ladies doctor. If he has given up hope
on himself being successful in threating his patient,
then he needs to release the patient from his care
and let the patient find another doctor.

You can throw cinnamon into your canned pork and
beans to give them a little lift. Plus I think it's not
too bad on your health to eat canned pork and beans
but you can adjust it to suit your situation.

Another thing I like to add cinnamon to is Chili. A big
pot with lots of good for you tomatoes, dark beans and
of course some lean beef. Can't deny ourselves completely.

I would recommend that members of the family pitch
in for mom and prepare her plenty of good food that
is delicious and good for her.

Prepare her some frozen meals she can nuke.

Make her some sugar free deserts. Home made is less fat
than the store bought junk.

Just keep her stocked up with all sorts of good food and
she will have it handy there and be likely to consume it.

I'm sure mom would do the same for you if she felt good
enough to.

Good luck :)

[jimmys devoted]

shoot I cant spell today........

I was just at the international CME site..a nd I read the study doen tin Pakisatn on it. Whats really funky is that Finland and Sweden cant back up the findings. Mybe they didnt look hard enough.
I ahve read enough older medical books from as far back as the 1700s that cinnammon is good for you. But one thing that they do caution in the older books is the levations in bleeding and blood presure.
they warn from teh books that using too much to taste , can cause a reaction of elevated blood pressure, rapid pulse, heartburn, nausea and in osme cases sensitive teeth and headache.
So alot of foods do that.
I like it in coffee and streusel on my low carb high fiber toast and in my french toast.
I pesonally never saw a difference. I choose garlic and high B vitamins for my supplements.
But if you ahve some better recipe sthan in chili.. maybe indian food will be better tasting or those thin butter snaps! that might help to curba sweet tooth.. how about dumping cinnamon into low carb coffee creamer ot make it Vianese or in hot coco!
I am game......

[Serra]

shoot I cant spell today........



You can't spell nor type most days. :D I suggest you pick up Firefox 2, it will spell check as you type.

[rdorn97]

I've been taking cinnanon capsuls that I've been getting at Wal-Mart for the last year and a 1/2. $5.50 for a 100. I take 2 a night. I sometime take a spoonful and mix it with one of the fiber drinks. I do believe it has helped my blood glucose levels and my Dr. is in total concurance with my taking it. I was on metformin 500 x 2, now I'm on 1 a day. I'm pretty much controlling it with diet and moderate exercise.

One of the things that I've see with recently diaganosed (year and a half for me. It runs in our family, so I must have been expecting it) is the denial that you have it. A lot of people I've met must not have much knowledge on the disease. No, you can't get it from kissing or a toilet seat. Admit it, and you will be suprised how much support you get. My own cousin didn't want to admit it to me, but finally did. Now he's more open, and getting control.

Each to their own, I guess

[bra]

I've been taking cinnanon capsuls that I've been getting at Wal-Mart for the last year and a 1/2. $5.50 for a 100. I take 2 a night. I sometime take a spoonful and mix it with one of the fiber drinks. I do believe it has helped my blood glucose levels and my Dr. is in total concurance with my taking it. I was on metformin 500 x 2, now I'm on 1 a day. I'm pretty much controlling it with diet and moderate exercise.

One of the things that I've see with recently diaganosed (year and a half for me. It runs in our family, so I must have been expecting it) is the denial that you have it. A lot of people I've met must not have much knowledge on the disease. No, you can't get it from kissing or a toilet seat. Admit it, and you will be suprised how much support you get. My own cousin didn't want to admit it to me, but finally did. Now he's more open, and getting control.

Each to their own, I guess

We buy ours at walmart also. I noticed the same things at walmart for 6.00 dollars as I've seen on the internet for 13.99 dollars + shipping. Shoppers beware!

I agree , to each his own! Our body makeup differs and we need to record things and compare how we react when we introduce new things into our living and eating plan.

[wilbzbooboo]

My mom is a Type 2 diabetic on oral meds for a few years now and is very noncompliant as far as diet. She won't even switch to diet soda from regular and that is just the beginning, she likes her sweets. Still she claims her blood sugar is fine when she checks it and attributes that to taking cinnamon. I was wondering if anyone else has heard that taking cinnamon helps control blood sugar?

I've heard of this cinnamon thing ,it'll help only when your in normal range of your sugar,to help maintain healthy levels,This is not for high readings to reduce it!

[ramesh68]

Hi there,


I don't think Cinnamon will really help to control blood sugar levels. Since she is more fond of sweets, she is trying to cover up the real situation. Because as a matter of fact, sweets will shoot up the sugar levels and the needs to come down. She has to strictly avoid taking sweets to tackle type 2 diabetes without any doubts. Better undergo frequent checkups to know the levels and fix the drug dosages to control it effectively.


Thanks