Living With Type 2 Diabetes: Cheating Carbs With Cinnamon

We all know the damage that carbs can do to our bodies and it seems as if everything that tastes good to us is usually loaded with carbs; desserts, alcohol, pasta, they’re all loaded with carbs. I’ve learned through experimentation that cinnamon works wonders in preventing blood sugar spikes after consuming high quantities of carbs. Cinnamon helps the body metabolize sugar and as a result, I keep several bottles of cinnamon in my cabinet.

It takes a strong person to stick to a low carb diet. After all, you almost have to have a set diet for every meal or a tracking chart to ensure that you don’t over-carb. My solution is to watch what I eat but to take 2,000 -3,000 mg of cinnamon when I know that I’m about to overload myself with carbs. It is not uncommon for me to take 3,000-5,000mg of cinnamon a day when I’m splurging on my diet or have elevated glucose levels. “I only had two beers” may be a common answer to give to a police officer but let’s face it, some of us may drink more than two beers or may like to have a big slice of key lime pie with our beer and chicken wings.

Cinnamon allows me to occasionally indulge in taboo diabetic foods without having to worry about blowing my glucometer off the charts. While cinnamon works well, it is even more effective when combined with chromium. This combination is sold on selves at Wal-Mart but should be used cautiously because chromium is renowned for lowering blood sugar on its own. I learned the hard way during my early days with diabetes that cinnamon and chromium combined with extensive exercise will cause you to have low blood sugar. I typically take cinnamon in capsule form, but I also sprinkle it on my oatmeal and into my hot green tea.

Those who have not tried the glucose-lowering power of cinnamon may argue against its effectiveness but the proof is in the powder, and I have bet my life on its effectiveness against diabetes.