Q. I suffer from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and am wondering if cinnamon would make it even worse, since it helps diabetics lower their sugar? I certainly do not want my blood glucose any lower!
A. Cinnamon has been suggested as a way for people with type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar after a meal. A review of research in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (online, Dec. 27, 2011) concluded that, “cinnamon has beneficial effects at least on fasting blood glucose.”
We could find no studies on cinnamon lowering blood sugar in people without diabetes. A low-carb diet and frequent high-protein snacks (nuts, cheese, egg, chicken, fish) can keep blood sugar from bouncing around in people with reactive hypoglycemia.
To learn more about a healthy low-carb diet, cinnamon and other foods that can help stabilize blood sugar, we suggest The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies, available in libraries and online (PeoplesPharmacy.com). You will also find some delicious recipes that can help control blood sugar in Recipes and Remedies from The People’s Pharmacy now at a 25% discount.
There are two kinds of cinnamon. The one that seems to have a beneficial effect on blood sugar is cassia cinnamon. Unfortunately, regular use or high doses may result in exposure to too much coumarin, a natural although undesirable component of this spice. Using a water-extracted concentrate (in capsules) or discarding the powder after pouring boiling water over it eliminates the coumarin and leaves the beneficial compounds.
