Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
Uncle Li shook the pu fan and sat on the bench at the entrance of the community, watching the pedestrians coming and going. He was used to coming out in the sun at this time of day and chatting with the old guys by the way. But today, he sat there alone, his brows furrowed, and his heart was heavy.
"Uncle Li, why are you here alone today?" Aunt Zhang from the next unit came over with a vegetable basket and asked with concern.
Uncle Li sighed: Alas, don't mention it. My wife was diagnosed with high blood sugar two days ago, and the doctor said that she had to control her diet and take medicine. But the price of that medicine is not cheap, and if we take it for a long time, our pension will be stretched.
Aunt Zhang's eyes lit up when she heard this: Uncle Li, don't worry. I heard of an earthwork that said that cinnamon can lower blood sugar, and the effect is not bad.
Uncle Li looked suspicious: "Cinnamon? Is that the cinnamon used for cooking? Can something so cheap really lower blood sugar?"
Aunt Zhang smiled and said, "I also listened to my son." He works in a traditional Chinese medicine hospital and said that a recent study has found that cinnamon does have the effect of lowering blood sugar. But I don't know exactly what's going on. Would you like to ask a professional doctor?"
Uncle Li nodded thoughtfully: "It's okay, I'm idle anyway, I'll inquire."
In this way, Uncle Li embarked on an unexpected journey of discovery, starting a wonderful story about cinnamon, blood sugar, and the wisdom of Chinese medicine.
Early the next morning, Uncle Li came to the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After asking at the guidance desk, he was referred to Dr. Wang in the Department of Endocrinology.
Dr. Wong is a middle-aged man in his mid-fifties, wearing thick glasses and looking knowledgeable. Uncle Li told Dr. Wang about his questions.
After listening to this, Dr. Wang smiled and said, "Uncle Li, you got the point. In recent years, there have been many studies that have found that cinnamon bark has a positive effect on blood sugar control. "
He took out a document from the drawer and pointed it out to Uncle Li: "This is a research paper published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2015. The study found that cinnamon bark extract was able to significantly reduce fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes[1]. "
Uncle Li was confused: "Doctor Wang, can you speak in layman's terms?" I don't understand the jargon as an old man. "
Dr. Wang smiled, "Okay, I'll explain it to you." Cinnamon contains a substance called 'cinnamaldehyde', which is able to increase our body's sensitivity to insulin. Put simply, it's about allowing our bodies to make better use of insulin, which allows us to control blood sugar more effectively. "
Uncle Li suddenly realized: "I see." Is it possible to control blood sugar as long as you eat more cinnamon?"
Dr. Wang shook his head: "It's not that simple. While cinnamon does have a hypoglycemic effect, it is not a complete replacement for conventional diabetes treatments. We still have to follow the basic principles of 'diet control, exercise therapy, and medication'. "
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door of the consultation room. A young woman in professional attire walked in: "I'm sorry, I heard you guys discussing cinnamon lowering blood sugar, can I join the discussion?"
Dr. Wang smiled and introduced, "Uncle Li, this is Miss Zhao, a dietitian from our hospital. Miss Zhao, this is Uncle Li, he is very interested in cinnamon to lower blood sugar. "
Nutritionist Zhao greeted Uncle Li warmly, and then said, "I happened to be studying the effects of natural ingredients on blood sugar recently. I also know some interesting findings about cinnamon. "
She pulled out her tablet and pulled up a document: "This is an analysis published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice in 2019. Studies have found that taking cinnamon supplements can significantly reduce fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol levels[2]. "
Uncle Li listened attentively: "Then can we take cinnamon as medicine?"
Dr. Wang and dietitian Zhao looked at each other and smiled. Dr. Wang explained, "Uncle Li, although cinnamon does have these benefits, we still have to use it with caution. Excessive intake of cinnamon may cause some side effects, such as stomach upset, mouth sores, etc. Moreover, the coumarin in cinnamon may affect blood clotting, so patients who are taking anticoagulant drugs should be especially careful. "
Nutritionist Zhao added: "That's right, and the dosage of cinnamon is also very important. It is generally recommended to consume 1-6 grams of dried cinnamon, or 0.5-2 grams of cinnamon powder per day. However, the specific dosage should be determined according to the individual situation, and it is best to use it under the guidance of a doctor. "
Uncle Li nodded thoughtfully: "I understand." Is there any good way to eat cinnamon at home?"
Nutritionist Zhao's eyes lit up: "That's a good question!" In fact, we can incorporate cinnamon into our daily diet. For example, you can add a small piece of cinnamon when cooking porridge, or add a small amount of cinnamon powder when making tea. You can also sprinkle cinnamon powder on oatmeal, which can both increase flavor and help control blood sugar. "
Just then, there was a commotion outside the clinic. A middle-aged man stumbled in, pale and sweaty.
"Doctor, help!" He panted and said, "My dad suddenly fainted and is now in the emergency room." He has diabetes and said he ate a lot of cinnamon this morning......"
Dr. Wang immediately stood up: "Quick, take me to see!"
He turned to Uncle Li and Nutritionist Zhao and said, "You guys wait here for a while, and I'll come when I go."
Uncle Li and Nutritionist Zhao looked at each other, both feeling a little uneasy.
Half an hour later, Dr. Wang came back with a solemn face.
"What's going on?" Uncle Li asked eagerly.
Dr. Wang took a deep breath: "That old man ate a lot of cinnamon powder early this morning because he heard that cinnamon can lower blood sugar. As a result, he had low blood sugar and fainted. Fortunately, he was sent to the hospital in time, and now he is out of danger. "
Nutritionist Zhao said in surprise: "So, cinnamon can really lower blood sugar significantly?"
Dr. Wang nodded: "Yes, but this also proves once again that the abuse of any drug or ingredient can be dangerous. Cinnamon does have a hypoglycemic effect, but improper use may cause hypoglycemia, especially for patients who are taking hypoglycemic medications. "
Uncle Li thoughtfully: "It seems that although this cinnamon is good, it can't be used indiscriminately."
Dr. Wang agreed, "That's right. Any treatment, whether it is modern medicine or traditional Chinese medicine, needs to be used rationally under the guidance of a professional. Now, I will summarize a few key points about cinnamon to lower blood sugar:
1. Cinnamon does have a hypoglycemic effect, which has been confirmed by scientific research.
2. The main active ingredient of cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde, which increases insulin sensitivity, which helps control blood sugar.
3. Cinnamon bark is not a complete replacement for conventional diabetes treatment and should be used as an adjunct treatment.
4. Pay attention to the dosage when using cinnamon, it is generally recommended to use 1-6 grams of dried cinnamon or 0.5-2 grams of cinnamon powder per day.
5. Cinnamon may have some side effects, such as stomach upset, affecting blood clotting, etc., so be cautious when using it.
6. Patients who are taking hypoglycemic drugs should be especially careful when using cinnamon bark to avoid hypoglycemia.
7. The best way is to incorporate cinnamon into your daily diet, such as adding a small amount to porridge, tea, oats.
8. Whatever method is used to control blood sugar, it should be done under the guidance of a doctor and blood sugar levels should be monitored regularly. "
Uncle Li carefully wrote down these points and had a deeper understanding of cinnamon in his heart. He sighed: "I didn't expect a small piece of cinnamon to contain so much knowledge. It seems that we ordinary people should also pay attention to science in medicine. "
Nutritionist Zhao smiled and said, "Uncle Li is right. In fact, many traditional ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine have unique health benefits, but we need to use modern scientific methods to verify and use them. This is the charm of integrative medicine. "
Dr. Wang added, "That's right. Modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine are not opposites, but can complement and promote each other. Like the case of cinnamon, it is both a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine and supported by modern scientific research. We should look at the two medical systems with a dialectical eye, learn from each other's strengths, and provide the best treatment options for patients. "
Uncle Li nodded again and again when he heard this: "I understand." It seems that you still have to listen to the doctor for medication in the future, and you can't make your own decisions. "
Dr. Wang smiled and said, "It's good that Uncle Li can have such an understanding. However, I would recommend that you do a detailed blood glucose test first, and then we can develop a suitable treatment plan based on the results. If appropriate, we can consider cinnamon as part of adjuvant therapy. "
Uncle Li readily agreed: "Okay, Dr. Wang." Then please arrange for me to have a check-up. "
In this way, Uncle Li began his blood sugar management journey. In the days that followed, he not only learned to use cinnamon scientifically, but also developed healthy lifestyle habits. He insisted on walking every day, paying attention to a balanced diet, taking his medication on time, and using cinnamon in moderation under the guidance of a doctor.
Three months later, Uncle Li came to the hospital again for a follow-up. When he saw the test results, Dr. Wang showed a relieved smile: "Uncle Li, congratulations!" Your blood sugar is well controlled, and there has been a noticeable improvement in all indicators. "
Uncle Li said happily: "Thanks to Dr. Wang's guidance and the help of cinnamon!"
Doctor Wang shook his head: "Uncle Li, cinnamon does play a certain role, but more important is your own efforts. Sticking to a healthy lifestyle and taking your medications as prescribed is the key to controlling your blood sugar. "
Uncle Li nodded thoughtfully: "I understand." It seems that we really need to maintain our own health. "
Dr. Wang agreed, "That's right. Health is our own responsibility. And the duty of our doctors is to provide professional guidance and help to everyone. "
When he left the hospital, Uncle Li was in a particularly happy mood. He remembered the experience of this time, from the initial curiosity of cinnamon, to the later understanding of scientific medicine, to now the effective control of blood sugar, he has experienced a wonderful journey.
Uncle Li decided to tell more people about his experience, so that everyone can know and use cinnamon scientifically, and let more people understand the importance of scientific blood sugar management.
He firmly believes that as long as it is treated scientifically and used rationally, traditional wisdom like cinnamon will definitely play a greater role in modern medicine and contribute to the cause of human health.