Diabetes: Cinnamon, Glucose Tolerance

Diabetes: Cinnamon, Glucose Tolerance

Diabetes: Extracts of cinnamon increase insulin activity several-fold and reduce blood glucose levels, according to studies by the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. These measurements were based on in-vitro or test-tube measurements of the ability of insulin to increase the breakdown of glucose. Insulin is the hormone that controls the utilization of the blood sugar, glucose. Improved insulin function leads to improved blood sugar concentrations.

The human study involved people with type 2 diabetes and demonstrated average (mean) improvements in the following blood factors:

* blood glucose, ranging from 18 to 29%;
* triglycerides, 23 to 30%;
* LDL-cholesterol, 7 to 27%; and
* total cholesterol, 12 to 26%.

Source: Diabetes Care, vol. 26, pages 3215-3218, 2003.

The active components of cinnamon are found in the water-soluble portion of cinnamon and are not present in cinnamon oil, which is largely fat-soluble.

In addition to ground cinnamon consumed directly, one can also make a cinnamon tea and let the solids settle to the bottom or use cinnamon sticks, which make for a nice clear tea. Cinnamon can also be added to orange juice, oatmeal, coffee before brewing, salads, meats etc. The active components are not destroyed by heat.

According to the Department of Agriculture, recent human studies indicate that consuming roughly one half of a teaspoon of cinnamon per day or less leads to dramatic improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Intake of cinnamon, at these levels, is stated to be very safe and there should not be any side effects. There are also companies selling water soluble components from cinnamon that contain the active ingredients with minimal amounts of the components that could be toxic at elevated levels.

Read more about this in the April 2004 issue of the Agricultural Research Magazine, see www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr04/cinnam0404.htm

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Technorati tags: diabetes, overcome diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, insulin, glucose tolerance, cinnamon.


cinnamon glucose tolerance

Diabetes: Cinnamon, Insulin, Blood Sugar

Diabetes cinnamon

Diabetes: Cinnamon may be more than a spice -- it may have a medical application in preventing and combating diabetes.

Cinnamon may help by playing the role of an insulin substitute in type II diabetes, according to cellular and molecular studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Cinnamon itself has insulin-like activity and also can potentiate the activity of insulin," said Don Graves of UCSB. "The latter could be quite important in treating those with type II diabetes. Cinnamon has a bio-active component that we believe has the potential to prevent or overcome diabetes."

The researchers have been studying the effects of cinnamon on obese mice, which have been fed water laced with cinnamon at Sansum's lab [Sansum Diabetes Research Institute].

Using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy, the researchers obtained results which allowed them to describe the chemical structure of a molecule with "insulin-like" activity in cinnamon. Graves and others reported earlier that this [cinnamon] compound, a proanthocyanidin, can affect insulin signaling in fat cells.

Richard Anderson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a former Graves student and the discoverer of the insulin-like activity, recently completed a human study with associates in Pakistan using cinnamon. Promising results were obtained by 30 test subjects with type II diabetes after only 40 days of taking cinnamon. They had a significant decrease in blood glucose [blood sugar], triglycerides, LDL, and cholesterol.

The researchers hope that a human trial may begin in the US, possibly in Santa Barbara, using cinnamon and its water-soluble extract to treat type II diabetes. Source: " Cinnamon May Help to Alleviate Diabetes Says UCSB Researcher," see: http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/display.aspx?pkey=1123

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Technorati tags: diabetes, overcome diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, insulin, diabetes cinnamon.


diabetes cinnamon

Diabetes: Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the complications of diabetes. In diabetic retinopathy, the retinas of the eyes become damaged as a result of prolonged high levels of blood glucose.

"Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 - 74 years. During the first two decades of disease, nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and [greater than] 60% of patients with type 2 diabetes have retinopathy. In the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR), 3.6% of younger-onset patients (type 1 diabetes) and 1.6% of older-onset patients (type 2 diabetes) were legally blind. In the younger-onset group, 86% of blindness was attributable to diabetic retinopathy. In the older-onset group, in which other eye diseases were common, one-third of the cases of legal blindness were due to diabetic retinopathy.

* * * * *

"Vision-threatening retinopathy is rare in type 1 diabetic patients in the first 3 - 5 years of diabetes or before puberty. During the next two decades, nearly all type 1 diabetic patients develop retinopathy. Up to 21% of patients with type 2 diabetes have retinopathy at the time of first diagnosis of diabetes, and most develop some degree of retinopathy over time. Vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy results from several mechanisms. Central vision may be impaired by macular edema or capillary nonperfusion. New blood vessels of PDR and contraction of the accompanying fibrous tissue can distort the retina and lead to tractional retinal detachment, producing severe and often irreversible vision loss."

Source: Fong and others, "Retinopathy in Diabetes," Diabetes Care 27:S84-S87, 2004, see: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/27/suppl_1/s84

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Technorati tags: diabetes, diabetes complications, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy.


diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes Diet: Low Carbohydrate Breakfast

Diabetes Diet: Low Carbohydrate Breakfast

For use by diabetics following a high protein, low carbohydrate diabetes diet.

Ingredients:

6 eggs
1 ounce tofu, preferably extra firm or firm tofu, cut into approx. 1/4 - 3/8 inch cubes
1/4 - 1/3 cup. shredded mozzarella cheese

Seasonings:

1/2 teasp. Chesapeake Bay seasoning or Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic seasoning;
1 teasp. Montreal Chicken seasoning
3/4 teasp. powdered or granulated chicken bouillon
6 drops Louisiana hot pepper sauce
8-10 drops Worcestershire sauce

Heat non-stick frying pan to medium heat, with some (1 teasp.) olive oil in it. In a bowl, scramble eggs with seasonings, add tofu cubes, add mozzarella cheese and combine. Pour egg mixture into frying pan and scramble, cooking until scrambled softly. Pour onto plate and enjoy. Quantity is aimed for one man. Adjust accordingly for women or smaller appetites.

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Technorati tags: diabetes, overcome diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, diabetes recipe, diabetes diet.


diabetes diet low carbohydrate

Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Impaired glucose tolerance is diagnosed when patients have blood glucose levels during an oral glucose tolerance test that are above normal but are below the level that is diagnostic for diabetes.

"Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose form an intermediate stage in the natural history of diabetes mellitus. From 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States have one of these conditions. Impaired glucose tolerance is defined as two-hour glucose levels of 140 to 199 mg per dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol) on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and impaired fasting glucose is defined as glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg per dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol per L) in fasting patients. These glucose levels are above normal but below the level that is diagnostic for diabetes.

"Patients with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose have a significant risk of developing diabetes and thus are an important target group for primary prevention. Risk factors for diabetes include family history of diabetes, body mass index greater than 25 kg per m2, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, dyslipidemia, history of gestational diabetes or large-for-gestational-age infant, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Blacks, Latin Americans, Native Americans, and Asian-Pacific Islanders also are at increased risk for diabetes."

-- Source: American Family Physician at www.aafp.org/afp/20040415/1961.html

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Technorati tags: diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance.


impaired glucose tolerance

Blood Glucose: Free Glucose Meter

A free glucose meter is available in a special offer that I recommend to you. The glucose meter is easy to use, provides 5-10 second results, uses only a tiny blood sample and, importantly, can test on the forearm or leg. With the new glucose meters, you don't have to draw blood from your fingers. The offer also includes free personal training in use of the meter.



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free glucose meter