A small study published in 2003 showed that a small amount of cinnamon eaten twice a day lowered people's blood sugar and cholesterol. But the study was small, and had some problems. A much larger study is needed to see if these results can be confirmed. A few other very small studies have also suggested that cinnamon may have a positive effect on sugar metabolism. But at least one study showed cinnamon had no effect on people's blood sugar.

The spice known as cinnamon comes from the bark of the cinnamon tree. The bark is dried and rolled into sticks or ground into a powder. It is used for cooking all around the world. It is also thought to have health benefits. Many people feel it can help the bowels, improve energy and circulation, improve digestion, treat colds, and treat diabetes. But there is little scientific evidence to support these claims.

How might cinnamon help blood sugar control? One theory is that it makes cells more sensitive to insulin. But cinnamon is not an accepted treatment for diabetes. Do not take cinnamon instead of your regular diabetes medicines. No one yet knows whether cinnamon will be able to treat diabetes. And don't take cinnamon along with other diabetes medicines as a treatment for your diabetes unless you work with your doctor. It is possible that it could make your sugars go too low.

Cinnamon can also have a blood-thinning effect, so people on coumadin or other blood-thinners should not take therapeutic doses of cinnamon. Pregnant women should avoid excessive amounts of cinnamon.

At the present time, I would suggest people continue to use cinnamon in cooking or in tea but wait until more information is available before considering cinnamon as a medicine.