My Journey Since Cinnamon
When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I did not know that cinnamon could be so beneficial for me. I stuck to what I was prescribed by my doctor, until my prescription plan changed with my employer and I had to start meeting a deductible before my plan would actually save me money on my diabetic medication(s).
Researching alternative treatments for type 2 diabetes
Like many, when something that has worked is taken away by these types of situations and you have to find other alternatives, I had to start researching to find something that was cost-effective and that could work for my condition. So that is just what I did. I hit the internet to find something that could help me with my numbers. I searched and listened to testimonies from many people across the country and even in other countries. Most of the stories were good and promising for getting your numbers down. And then...cinnamon. OH MY! How can something that is a spice, and is good in so many things, help me? In my mind, I thought this is not going to help, but so many kept talking about it so I thought, 'okay now, maybe this is good and could actually help'.
Can cinnamon improve my blood sugar?
Next, I was just researching cinnamon and it's benefits, and I was shocked. There were so many benefits that cinnamon could offer to not just people with type 2 diabetes, but so many other conditions as well. If you have never tried it and are curious, I encourage you to research the benefits and you will be surprised by all that it has to offer. But, too much of a good thing can still be bad...
Cinnamon research
So far in my research, I have really dug in to see why some tend to favor Ceylon (true) cinnamon over cassia (some refer to it as "regular") cinnamon. One thing that I have learned is how you can tell the difference between the two. Cassia is darker cinnamon and Ceylon is lighter cinnamon. Cassia is more common in the United States and is what you may see at your local grocery store. Ceylon is not so common and may be harder to find for some. Another very important thing about the two is that cassia cinnamon has higher coumarin content while Ceylon (true) cinnamon has lower coumarin content. Coumarin can be a danger for our health if too much is consumed. Please research coumarin if you have not already.
My cinnamon experience
First I started to eat a spoon of it in the morning until I had a mishap that scared me. Then I started the capsule form for a while until one time I ran out, so I started back with the grounded form. When I started eating cinnamon I was eating too much, but I now eat less than a teaspoon a day.
My blood sugar results after cinnamon
I am used to my blood sugar readings being near 300 or more, and that was even with some medication(s). But now I am usually around 120 and I am actually pretty happy about that. At the moment, I add cinnamon to my coffee and if I have oatmeal, I will sprinkle some over it. If you are thinking about trying cinnamon daily, I advise you to talk to your healthcare provider and make sure you consume it in moderation.
I would love to hear from you...
Are you currently taking cinnamon daily and if you are, what are some ideas that you can share. Do you try the ground form or capsule form?
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