Efficacy and safety of cinnamon in treating diabetes

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Efficacy and safety of cinnamon in treating diabetes
Subjective
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that has increased morbidity and mortality globally, and doctors now emphasis that alternative and complementary medicine could be effective in managing the disease other that use of conventional medicine. According to Hermitt, a Yahoo news contributor, use of cinnamon is supposedly able to cure many diseases and is hence dubbed a miracle cure. Cinnamon is regarded as a medical cure for various illnesses including cancers and is now advertised as a cure for type 2 diabetes (Hermitt).
The author quotes, studies which show that cinnamon is able to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. However the American Diabetes Association states that cinnamon should not replace other medications or lead to living unhealthily based on the idea of a miracle cure (Hermitt). The choice of this supplement is relevant as cinnamon is readily available, and many claims have been made that it is a miracle cure. This paper looks into the efficacy and safety of treating diabetes using cinnamon.
Objective
Dietary supplements are a form of Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) therapy, and there regulation falls under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and not the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A nutritional supplement is an ingredient taken orally and meant to supplement the dietary intake. Thus, use of herbs and other plant-based products including cinnamon constitute nutritional supplements so long as they supplement the diet. The use of Cinnamon as a medicinal ingredient has well been established and includes ceylon and cassia cinnamon. Since nutritional supplements have different regulations not found under the FDA, there is no need to contact the FDA in marketing the products. Similarly, the FDA may only get involved when a nutritional supplement is unsafe.
Researchers have yet to find the specific compound that helps to manage diabetes, but it is likely that Cinnamon polyphenols, which imitate insulin properties in cell bodies, treat diabetes. Cinnamon helps to lower the blood sugar level and the properties of cinnamon help in absorbing sugar. Nonetheless, there is a risk that use of medications and cinnamon together may lead to low blood sugar levels. Through use of cinnamon insulin becomes more efficient as there is increased insulin sensitivity. At the same time, cinnamon affects transporter proteins that eventually lead to carrying glucose into the cells from the blood cells. However, there are few regulations on the use of supplements, and there is a need to investigate the possible risks of using cinnamon.
Effects of lowering blood sugar levels vary from one person to another, and it is difficult to assess what amount of dosage is necessary for every patient. In spite of many benefits to patients, cinnamon has risks. It helps blood thinning, but ...