Can cinnamon lower blood sugars?

Cinnamon is a decent food flavoring agent and recently there has been a lot of hype about its ability to lower blood sugars. There are many reports indicating that cinnamon has many other medial benefits. However, all these are anecdotal reports and have never been proven in properly conducted clinical studies. 


There has been one study from Asia which showed that cinnamon taken daily for more than 3 months can help lower blood sugars in type 2 diabetics. However, the results were not sustained and the benefit was only seen in a few patients.


What the consumer should under stand is that cinnamon is a spice that has been used in every day cooking by millions of Orientals and Indians. And yet there people have some of the highest levels of diabetes of all ethnic groups. While cinnamon is not a bad flavoring agent, its anti diabetic properties are simply exaggerated. 


All diabetics should know that cinnamon is not a substitute for the conventional diabetic medications or insulin. If you  are a diabetic and want to live a hassle free life free of complications, better speak to your doctor before you start mucking around with cinnamon as your treatment for blood sugars.