Diabetes

Recently prescribed diabetes drug Avandia is linked to a greater risk of heart attack and possibly death, says a new scientific analysis. The study, published in the 2003 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, reported on six cases of congestive heart failure in people taking pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitazone (Avandia) to help control their diabetes. The first approved drug in the class, Rezulin, was taken off the market in 2000 after it was linked to dozens of cases of fatal liver disease. The story goes on and on for several modern drugs causing long term side effects.

There's absolutely no doubt that dietary changes weight loss and exercise can have a major impact on diabetes treatment. If you just lose 10 pounds, for example, you may be able to decrease your insulin resistance. That's a significant breakthrough because insulin ushers blood sugar, or glucose, into your cells. In order for your cells to get the life-giving energy they need, they must accept rather than resist insulin.

Cinnamon - Research has indicated that cinnamon - the common aromatic spice - can help regulate blood glucose levels in persons who suffer diabetes. According to a 2003 study of cinnamon and diabetes that involved type 2 diabetics, ingesting as little as one gram (roughly one-half teaspoon) of cinnamon per day may lower one's blood glucose levels by 18%; and perhaps as much as 29%. Cinnamon contains chemical substances (polyphenols) believed to enhance one's sensitivity to insulin. As such, cinnamon may be beneficial for both type 2 diabetics and prediabetics with impaired insulin sensitivity. This link between cinnamon and diabetes stirred widespread interest.

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