How Cinnamon and Diabetes Affect Many People Worldwide? (Essay Sample)

Cinnamon and Diabetes
Student’s name
Institution affiliated
Cinnamon and Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects many people worldwide. The condition is signified by a high blood glucose level because of two reasons. One of the reasons is inability of the body to respond to insulin and low production of insulin that regulates blood sugar. Symptoms of diabetes include the amplified feeling of thirst and urination, weight loss, fatigue, itchy skin and increased hunger also known as polyphagia. Diabetes patients record a high glucose level which when left untreated could lead to more hazardous problems. One of the methods that is subjected to criticism is the use of cinnamon in the management of diabetes. The American Association of diabetes disagrees with the idea that cinnamon has positive effects in the control of glucose levels in diabetes patients. Some scientists even conclude that cinnamon is hazardous to diabetes patients who consume cinnamon in their food. There is a lot of contradictions in the role of cinnamon in diabetes and with various researchers either supporting or opposing the idea. The aim of this paper is to discuss cinnamon and diabetes by analyzing various literature by researchers.
Hlebowics et al (2007) suggest that cinnamon plays a role in the reduction of glucose levels in the body. The researchers took a study of patients aged between 21 and 38 for a period of eight weeks. The research involved taking of doses of supplementary cinnamon and turmeric. They also closely monitored the fasting plasma glucose levels and lipid concentrations. They also considered observing the occurrence of kidney stones in the patients to determine the suitability of the spices to the patients. The aim is also to define safety of cinnamon.
The researchers concluded that there is beneficial use of cinnamon in diabetic patients. The results showed that use of cinnamon helped in the decreasing blood lipid concentrations. The results also showed an improvement in the control of blood sugar (Hlebowics et al,2 007). They also concluded that at low doses, cinnamon does not cause any harmful effects. At high doses cinnamon may cause occurrence of kidney stones in the individuals. The reason for this is the presence of oxalate content in cinnamon which may cause kidney problems (Hlebowics et al,2 007). The researchers gave a limit of 3000mg per day of cinnamon in kidney stones patients although those that are diabetic and do not have kidney problems may consume more.
Quin et al, (2010) concluded that taking 6 grams of cinnamon by diabetic patients would help in the reduction of blood glucose levels. They explained that cinnamon has a role in the delaying of gastric emptying although the researchers did not give any significant result in its effect on satiety. Intake of cinnamon convinced the researchers that it is helpful in the delay of gastric emptying rate that has an outcome in the lowering of postprandial blood glucose levels.
Their research involved observation of glucose levels in fourteen subjects between the ages of 20-38 years. The subjects take a dietary program that included 6 grams of cinnamon and rice pudding. The gastric emptying rate is also observed by the use of a standardized ultrasound method. The gastric emptying rate and glucose levels is measured at intervals of 15 minutes after taking the meal for two hours. The research also included an investigation on effect of cinnamon on satiety of the subjects. From the results, the researchers concluded that cinnamon did not have a significant effect on satiety (Quin et al, 2010).
The research done by both groups of researchers was conducted well and give an idea of the effect of intake of cinnamon on blood glucose levels and whether it could be useful to diabetic patients. The researchers carefully monitored the glucose levels before and after the consumption of cinnamon for a specific period of time (Quin et al, 2010). The results from the results achieve the aim of the study in determining the importance of diabetes in control of blood glucose levels.
The studies however do not give a precise dose of cinnamon that would significantly help ...