Topic: Metformin and Cinnamon use in type.2 diabetes article

\”Metformin is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides. Metformin helps to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. Metformin also increases your body\’s response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Metformin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood),\” ——(2016, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.)

Side effects:

-Metformin may rarely cause a serious, life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis

• diarrhea
• bloating
• stomach pain
• gas
• indigestion
• constipation
• unpleasant metallic taste in mouth
• heartburn
• headache
• flushing of the skin
• nail changes
• muscle pain

Some side effects can be serious:

• chest pain
• rash

-Some female laboratory animals given high doses of metformin developed non-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths of tissue) in the uterus (womb). It is not known if metformin increases the risk of polyps in humans.
——(2016, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.)
Article link:  Cinnamon use in Type 2 Diabetes article
This article is a current systematic review on the use of cinnamon and its effects on blood glucose and blood lipid levels in relation to type 2 diabetes.  The authors conclude that, \”based on currently available literature, cinnamon  may have a beneficial effect on fasting plasma glucose,  LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels in patients  with type 2 diabetes. There is no statistically significant  effect on hemoglobin A1c,\” (Allen et al. 2016, pg.8).  The authors do state that more research needs to be done to determine dosage as per patient.

\”As an example, the reductions
in fasting plasma glucose levels (–24.59 mg/dL) are
less than those achieved by metformin monotherapy
(–58 mg/dL)22 and somewhat more than the newer oral
agents, such as sitagliptin (–16 to –21 mg/dL). Our
results showed cinnamon to reduce LDL-C and triglyceride
levels by approximately 9.4 and 29.6 mg/dL,
respectively,\” (Allen et al. 2016, pg.6)

\”In future investigations, a multivariate
analysis controlling for multiple influential factors, such
as dosage form, dose, and baseline lipid levels, may be
necessary to identify the ideal product and population
to exert benefit,\” (Allen et al. 2016, pg. 7)

\”The results of this analysis may also be affected
by the inconsistent quality of botanical research. The
quantity of active cinnamaldehyde may vary among
species and even among formulations. Consequently,
it may be difficult to achieve predictable results if
administering a cinnamon product to a patient,\” (Allen et al. 2016, pg.7)

**What I notice throughout my research is that almost all medical journals, published about nutritional and herbal medicine, need more research on their topics.  It takes a long time for a medical product to get to the general public, even taking up to 10 years or more. Traditional medicine, like herbs, have been just that, traditional, and have been seen to work in individuals over thousands of years, as in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).  Its hard to to grasp for conventional medicine that a regulated dose can\’t be developed or seen in the research when it comes to herbal/nutritional medicine. Everyone is different, why can\’t the dosage be different?  Why is this not okay?  Each individual should get the attention deserved to get the proper dosage set out for them. So here are some questions to think on; is there a problem with the way conventional medicine does the research to begin with?  Should the parameters of research be looked at and potentially changed due to the fact that every human being is different?  

Thanks for reading, and be aware and eat with care 🙂

Refs:

Picture ref:  https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/2014/12/metformin-patients-share-their-experience/

Metformin use:  2016, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc,  https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html

Metformin side effects:  2016, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc,  https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html

Article:  Allen, R, Schwartzman, E, Baker, W, Coleman, C, & Phung, O 2013, \’Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis\’,  Annals Of Family Medicine, 11, 5, pp. 452-459 8p, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 February 2016.