Q. I have diabetes. I started eating cinnamon on my breakfast cereal and my fasting glucose numbers dropped significantly. That’s the only thing I was doing differently. My HbA1c reading dropped from 6.2 to 5.5, putting me back in non-diabetic range.
A. We are pleased to learn of your success with this spice. Evidence confirms that cinnamon can help control blood sugar (Annals of Family Medicine, Sept-Oct, 2013).
We caution you that common (cassia) cinnamon that lowers blood sugar may also contain coumarin, a compound that can harm the liver or interact with medications.
You will learn how to avoid this danger in our Guide to Managing Diabetes. It discusses the pros and cons of various diabetes drugs and describes non-drug approaches to blood sugar control.
You might be interested in other foods, herbs and spices that can help keep blood sugar from spiking. Finishing a meal with a bit of vinegar can be surprisingly effective. Here’s David’s story:
“I was near diabetic to the point that my doctor had me get a blood glucose meter and start checking my blood sugar, etc.
“I made a few lifestyle changes (Hey! I am an ice cream addict big time and still am), but I tried using apple cider vinegar (with the mother) before each meal. That worked for me so I bought a quart bottle for a friend who had just lost (due to his diabetes) another part of one of his feet. He tried it, made no other changes, and now has cut his need for insulin down to 2 units instead of the very high amount he was taking. His doctor never heard of using apple cider vinegar, but told him to keep doing what he did and it is still working for him (and me) 8 months later. We both started with two tablespoons full of vinegar in water and now both of us use just one before each meal. Well, he does that. I only take it sometimes now and only check my blood sugar occasionally too and I am now always OK.
“I would recommend that diabetics and near diabetics give it a try. It can not hurt and worked for me and my friend. Note that this is not Apple Cider Vinegar from Walmart or the grocery store, but Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother from a health food store and I still eat what everybody says (including me, even though I am eating organic ice cream) is an unhealthy amount of ice cream.”
