3 Ways to Use Cinnamon to Help With Diabetes - Method3 Understanding Why Cinnamon Helps with Diabetes

1 Learn about diabetes. Diabetes is a group of chronic hormonal disorders that results in too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. There are a number of forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, usually appearing when a person is quite young. Type 2 diabetes is an acquired disorder that used to be considered an adult condition that is unfortunately appearing more and more often in children. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. A third form of diabetes is called gestational diabetes and occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is relatively common, occurring in less than 10% of pregnant women.

• Some physicians include pre-diabetes as an early form of diabetes. Individuals with prediabetes have higher than normal levels of blood glucose, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetics. Individuals with pre-diabetes (also known as insulin resistance) have a very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

2 Investigate how insulin affects blood sugar. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is the main chemical messenger that “tells” the cells that it is time to take up glucose. Insulin is involved in messaging the liver to take up glucose and transform it into the storage form of glucose known as glycogen. Insulin is also involved in a wide range of other functions like protein and fat metabolism.

• All diabetics can also be said to have insulin resistance. The reason they have high blood glucose is that the cells in their body do not take up glucose. The reason for this is that the cells in their body do not respond normally to insulin.
• If the cells become insulin resistant, they “ignore” or can’t respond to the signal from insulin. This can increase the levels of glucose in the blood. When this happens the pancreas responds by producing even more insulin in an attempt to “force” the glucose into the cells. The problem is that since the insulin has no effect on the insulin-resistant cells, the blood glucose levels can keep rising. The body’s response is to convert the high levels of glucose in the blood into fat, and that can set up a scenario of chronic inflammation and other disorders like full blown Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.

3 Understand how Type 2 diabetes functions and its traditional treatment. The most common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include: increased thirst along with more frequent urination, increased appetite, weight gain or unexpected weight loss, blurry or changed vision, fatigue, and increased number of infections. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by your symptoms and a number of specific blood tests that measure how well your body handles sugars.

• Most cases of diabetes can be controlled with a combination of medications (hypoglycemics -- medicines that lower blood sugars), diet, and exercise. Insulin may be ordered for some patients, especially those with Type 1 diabetes.

4 Find out why cinnamon can help control Type 2 diabetes. Current research indicates that one of the components of cinnamon, methylhydroxychalcone polymer or MHCP, can improve how cells respond to insulin. MHCP seems to mimic some of insulin’s activity. It also appears to work side by side with insulin, by improving the effectiveness of insulin. MHCP also has antioxidant effects, though it is not clear that these have anything to do with the ability of cinnamon to control blood glucose.

Warnings

•        Do not use cinnamon supplements as a replacement for diabetes medication except under the supervision of a medical professional. Cinnamon supplementation is likely most effective in combination with healthy diet and lifestyle choices and a medical treatment regimen.

3 Ways to Use Cinnamon to Help With Diabetes - Method 2 Adding a Cinnamon Supplement to Your Treatment Regimen

1 Consider taking a cinnamon supplement. If you don't want to add cinnamon to your meals, you can still add it to your diet by taking a supplement. Many health supplement and natural food stores sell cinnamon supplements at affordable prices.

2 Talk to your health professional about adding a cinnamon supplement. While a low-dose cinnamon supplement is unlikely to harm you, your medical advisor may be aware of potential interaction effects with your medications that would make it risky to take cinnamon regularly. It can interact with your diabetes medications, as both the cinnamon and the hypoglycemics work to lower your blood sugar and it is important to be certain that your blood glucose levels drop too low.

• Keep track of how much cinnamon you are taking and keep track of your blood sugar levels using a home glucose monitor-- you will soon be able to determine how much cinnamon you need to help control your blood sugar.

3 Consider a supplement of 500mg of cinnamon per day. 500 mg of cinnamon taken twice a day has been shown to improve A1c levels (and the levels of blood fats). A1c is used to determine average glucose levels for the previous 3 months, thus lowered A1c levels reflect improved diabetic control.^[1]

3 Ways to Use Cinnamon to Help With Diabetes - Method1 Incorporating Cinnamon Into Your Diet

Cinnamon is not only a spice packed with healthful antioxidants. It can also be used to help diabetics control their blood glucose levels. While it should not completely replace other treatments, consult your physician about adding to your treatment regimen.

Method1 Incorporating Cinnamon Into Your Diet

1 Use cinnamon to replace sugar. Because cinnamon is so flavorful, it can often replace small amounts of sugar in stove-top recipes, sauces, meat, and vegetable dishes. Replacing a sweetener with this spice can help reduce the amount of sugar you consume and improve your blood glucose levels.

• Cinnamon is considered safe when used in the amounts normally found as foods-- this works out to roughly ½ to 1 teaspoon or about 1000 mg per day.

2 Add cinnamon to your breakfast. For instance, stir cinnamon and a small amount of agave nectar into oatmeal in the morning, adding berries and nuts to make it an even more nutritious breakfast. Or top off buttered whole grain toast with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkle of a crystallized sweetener like Stevia or Splenda.

• Cinnamon also goes well with peanut butter or sugar-free jam on toast.

3 Use cinnamon in meat sauces. Cinnamon pairs well with poultry, pork, and beef spice rubs as well as Asian-themed dishes, marinades, and salad dressings. Mixing to taste, replace some of the sugar or brown sugar with cinnamon for homemade barbecue sauces, pulled pork marinade, berry compotes, and even marinara sauces.

4 Replace sugar in vegetable dishes. Use cinnamon in place of brown sugar or regular sugar in candied vegetable dishes, such as candied yams, baby carrots, or sweet stir fry. Cinnamon lends a complex, sweet flavor without the spike in glucose.

5 Use cinnamon in baking. Baking is perhaps the easiest way to incorporate more cinnamon into your diet. If you enjoy homemade breads, muffins, breakfast bars, cookies, or pies, cinnamon can be easily added to virtually any recipe you love.

• Stir cinnamon into baked good recipes. Extra cinnamon mixes best with dry flour, and you should mix thoroughly to prevent clumping. If a recipe already calls for some cinnamon, try doubling the amount or reducing the amount of a spice like nutmeg to replace it with cinnamon.
• Use cinnamon to dust baked goods. If cinnamon has already been incorporated into a baked good recipe, try using a baker’s brush or sifter to lightly dust the top of the muffin, cake, or bread with cinnamon while it is still warm from the oven.

6 Add cinnamon to sweet and savory canning recipes. Canning fruits and vegetables offers an easy way to sneak cinnamon into snacks and sides that otherwise would be free of cinnamon. When used appropriately, cinnamon can make an excellent addition to sweet and savory canning recipes.

• Use cinnamon heavily in recipes like apple or pumpkin butter, canned apples, and applesauce.
• Add a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to each large Mason jar of other fruits, like canned peaches or strawberries.
• If you are canning or pickling savory foods, consider adding cinnamon with cucumbers, green beans, onions, beets, and even bell peppers.

7 Use cinnamon in drinks. Try adding a little cinnamon to your coffee grounds in the morning to get a cinnamon-flavored cup of caffeine, or mix it into smoothies, diet shakes, and dairy-based blended drinks to get an extra dose of cinnamon in your day.

2 method to Gain Weight If You Have Diabetes - Method2 Setting Goals

Method2 Setting Goals

1 Learn what your healthy weight is. Not everyone will have the same healthy weight goals, as each person's body will vary. Many people do not understand what a healthy weight is, and for that reason, strive to hit the wrong goals. Being under or overweight can affect your health, so strive for the optimum level of body weight.

• The most common measurement to determine ideal body weight is known as BMI, or body mass index.
• Many calculators are available online to help you determine your BMI.
• The formula used for imperial calculation of BMI is weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
• The formula used for metric calculation of BMI is weight (kg) / [height (m)] 2 
• Generally, a range of 18.5 to 24.9 using the BMI, is considered normal body weight.

2 Understand caloric intake. At its core, weight gain results from increased caloric consumption. By eating more, you will gain more weight. However, you should still learn to estimate how many calories you need daily to gain weight.

• Count how many calories you are currently eating in a day.
• Add 500 calories a day, for one week. Check for weight gain.
• If no weight was gained, add another 500 calories a day next week.
• Do this until weight starts to accumulate. Maintain that level of caloric intake until a healthy weight is achieved.
• A rough estimate of calorie intake required to gain weight is around 3,500 calories a day. This will equate to gaining around 1lb.

3 Exercise. Exercise can help add muscle, and in turn, lead to weight gain. You may also increase appetite levels after a workout. By increasing food intake, and exercise, you help turn the extra food into muscle instead of fat.

• Weight lifting or strength training is the best way to transform the increased calories into muscle.
• Exercise is a great way to meet your goals in a healthy way.

Tips

•         Always monitor your blood glucose levels when making dietary changes.
•         Don't rush towards your goal. Work slowly to see which foods you prefer and work best for you.
•        Speak with your doctor to learn what they think will be the best way for you to gain weight and still manage your diabetes.

How to Control Diabetes - Part4 Using Medication

Part4 Using Medication

1 Talk to your doctor before taking any medication for your diabetes. Diabetes is a serious illness which can require special medications to treat. However, if misused, these medications can lead to problems which can be serious in their own right. Before taking any medication for your diabetes, talk to your doctor to develop a plan that takes all treatment options (including diet and exercise) into account. Like all serious medical conditions, a case of diabetes requires the advice of a qualified professional. The information in this section is purely informative and should not be used to pick medications or formulate dosages.

• Additionally, you won't necessarily want to stop taking any medications you are currently on if you discover you are diabetic. A doctor must evaluate all of the variables at play - including your current medication usage - to develop a plan to treat your diabetes.
• The effects of using too much or too little diabetes medication can be serious. For instance, an overdose of insulin can result in hypoglycemia, leading to dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and even coma in severe cases.

2 Use insulin to control your blood sugar. Insulin is perhaps the most well-known diabetes medication. The insulin that doctors prescribe to diabetics is a synthetic form of a chemical naturally produced by the pancreas to process sugar in the blood. In healthy individuals, after a meal, when blood sugar levels are high, the body releases insulin to break down the sugar, removing it from the bloodstream and rendering it into a usable form of energy. Administering insulin (via injection) allows the body to process blood sugar properly. Since medicinal insulin comes in several strengths and varieties, it's important to receive a doctor's advice before starting to use insulin.

• Note that people with Type 1 Diabetes must take insulin. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the body being completely unable to make insulin, so it must be added by the patient. People with Type 2 Diabetes may or may not take insulin depending upon the severity of their disease.

3 Use oral diabetes medications to control your blood sugar. There are a variety of options when it comes to orally-administered diabetes medications (pills). Often, for people with moderate cases of Type 2 diabetes, doctors will recommend trying these types of medications before using insulin as the latter represents a more drastic, life-affecting treatment option. Because there are are such a wide variety of oral diabetes medications with different mechanisms of action, it's important to talk to a doctor before starting to take any sort of diabetes pills to ensure that the medication is safe for your own personal use. See below for the different types of oral diabetes medications and a brief description of the mechanism of action for each:^[35]

• Sulfonylureas - stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin.
• Biguanides - lower the amount of glucose produced in the liver and makes muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin.
• Meglitinides - stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin.
• Thiazolidinediones - reduce glucose production in liver and increase insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat tissue.
• DPP-4 inhibitors - prevent the breakdown of normally short-lived chemical mechanisms which regulate the level of blood glucose.
• SGLT2 Inhibitors - absorbs blood glucose in the kidneys.
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors - lower glucose levels by preventing the breakdown of starches in the intestine. Also slow the breakdown of some sugars.
• Bile Acid Sequestrants - reduces cholesterol and simultaneously lowers glucose levels. The method for the latter is still not well understood.

4 Consider supplementing your treatment plan with other medications. The medications specifically designed to fight diabetes above are not the only medications prescribed for diabetes. Doctors prescribe a range of medications, from aspirin to flu shots, to help manage diabetes. However, even though these medications are usually not as "serious" or drastic as the diabetes medications described above, it's usually a good idea to consult with your doctor before supplementing your treatment plan with one of these medicines just in case. Just a few supplementary medicines are listed below:

• Aspirin - sometimes prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks for people with diabetes.^[36] Mechanism of action is not well-understood but is thought to relate to aspirin's ability to prevent red blood cells from sticking together.
• Flu shots - since the flu, like many illnesses, can cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate and make diabetes harder to manage, doctors often recommend that patients receive yearly flu shots to reduce their chance of contracting this disease.
• Herbal supplements - though most "homeopathic" supplements have not definitively been proven effective in a scientific setting, some diabetes patients offer anecdotal testimonies to their effectiveness.

Tips

·         Request remedial assistance the moment you perceive alterations symptoms of high sugar within the body (abnormal indications).
o    Diabetes is a severe trouble with lasting/unrepairable effects, requiring immediate and continuing medical care. Scientists haven't revealed all the causes of its occurrence.
·         Initially, diabetes arises as the beta cell units inside the pancreas which manufacture insulin are damaged. Cells begin also to "resist insulin" and overworks the pancreas. Food we consume converts into sugar, called glucose, serving our body for energy. Once there are no beta cell units to manufacture insulin to move the glucose into the cells (muscle, fat, etc.), then sugar remains within the blood and since the body cannot make correct use of glucose (without sufficient insulin), it is deposited into the urine, damages and will cause kidneys to fail if not controlled, as well as other organs (liver, heart, nerves and eyes are damaged) before it is excreted (urinated out of the body).
·         If you have indications of diabetes visit a medical doctor promptly to be given appropriate analysis. Symptoms which usually occur in type 1 diabetes will also eventually in type 2 as it starts mild and gets worse, if not controlled well. Ordinary indications which show the occurrence of diabetes include:
o    extreme appetite,
o    dehydration,
o    frequent urination,
o    remarkable weight reduction,
o    low energy,
o    dried up skin,
o    injuries fail to heal,
o    constant sickness
o    abdominal troubles,
o    organs begin to weaken and will fail if not controlled...
·         Diabetes where insulin is not produced is not a curable disease, the scientists try to find techniques to treat diabetes, like inducing pancreas growth, islet unit transplantation, pancreas transplantation and genetic treatment. These approaches must pass all the way through a series of trials and analysis such as preventing resistance to insulin, discovering a means to make sufficient amount of insulin units, keeping the pancreas strong and others.
·         If ill with Diabetes, you have 3 choices to avoid many problems:
o    avoid elevated blood sugar,
o    alleviate symptoms and
o    seek care of diabetes. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is a source of information about investigation of caring for category one and category two diabetes.
·         Failure of the pancreas to produce enzymes and hormones including insulin and glucagon, untreated, causes starvation (food is not usable) and will bring death. (People can take granulated [ground and dried] porcine and bovine pancreatic glandular material made from slaughtered animals pancreas and other, refined forms of enzymes and hormones.) The damaged, injured pancreas (pancreatitis) is attacked, then digested, destroyed by its own vital enzymes that are usually only active in the intestines to digest food -- causes include alcohol abuse, genetic disorders, injury, infection from illness (Reye's syndrome, mumps, coxsackie B, mycoplasma pneumonia, and campylobacter), and cancer.^[37]

Warnings

•         Don't try to control your diabetes alone, as it could leave you feeling angry and tired, leading you to give up. Once you get accustomed to your routine, with the help of your medical, "diabetes team," you'll feel better -- and controlling your diabetes will be easier.
•      Uncontrolled diabetes causes heart trouble, kidney failure, dry skin, nerve damage, loss of sight, lower-extremity infections, amputations and it may lead to death.

Sources and Citations

1    1.      http://www.ndep.nih.gov/i-have-diabetes/
2.    ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000305.htm
3.    ↑ http://www.joslin.org/info/can_i_treat_diabetes_without_drugs.html
4.    ↑ http://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/diabetes/treatment-options
5.    ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/get-started-safely/blood-glucose-control-and-exercise.html
6.    ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/get-started-safely/blood-glucose-control-and-exercise.html
7.    ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/stress-diabetes
8.    ↑ http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/diabetes-colds
9.    ↑ http://www.diabetes.co.uk/periods-and-diabetes.html
10.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20044312
11.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20044312
12.  ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000082.htm
13.  ↑ http://www.diabeteshealth.com/blog/insulin-for-type-2-diabetes-who-when-and-why/
14.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/bariatric-surgery.html
15.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-sugar/art-20046628
16.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-sugar/art-20046628
17.  ↑ http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/A1CTest/
18.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/basics/treatment/con-20019573
19.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/basics/treatment/con-20019573
20.  ↑ http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp
21.  ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000082.htm
22.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-diet/art-20044295
23.  ↑ http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/diabetes-and-obesity
24.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/understanding-carbohydrates/types-of-carbohydrates.html
25.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/high-fiber-foods/art-20050948
26.  ↑ http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/good-protein-sources
27.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fats-and-diabetes.html
28.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fats-and-diabetes.html
29.  ↑ http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Diabetes/WhyDiabetesMatters/Cholesterol-Abnormalities-Diabetes_UCM_313868_Article.jsp
30.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fats-and-diabetes.html
31.  ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/art-20045192?pg=2
32.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/alcohol.html
33.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/alcohol.html
34.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/alcohol.html
35.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/create-your-plate/
36.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/oral-medications/what-are-my-options.html
37.  ↑ http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/other-treatments/aspirin.html
38.  ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000287.htm nlm.NIH.gov, Medlineplus