I’ve had a couple of request to expand on the benefits of Himalayan salt and diabetes. However, I have decided to address other natural remedies in this article for a more rounded talk. Never fear, I will address Himalayan salt as well.

This is not your average diabetes information

I love my 85 year old dad, but he’s from the generation that takes what the doctor tells him as gospel. You know how it is with family… Anyway, I recently learned to my surprise and amazement, that he has been taking cinnamon capsules to help control his type II diabetes.

I had had a discussion with my dad about one of his diabetic medications and the adverse side effects. When I worked for the Veterans Administration (VA) the recommendation to their doctors was not to use this particular prescription. I’m not going to name medications in this article for legal reasons. As always I recommend you consult with your physician about your concerns with medications. 

Dad reported to me that to his surprise (not mine) that he is able to have better control over his glucose numbers since using cinnamon capsules. My dad likes to have cookies for breakfast. He can eat what he wants since my mom passed eight years ago.

So, how does cinnamon help in controlling diabetes? The short answer is:

Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing glucose transport into the cells. It can also help lower blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient at moving glucose into cells.

In people with type 2 diabetes, we know the cells resist the effect of insulin. As a result glucose doesn’t get into the cells and builds up in the blood instead. Cinnamon contains several chemicals that stimulate insulin receptors so glucose can get into cells and that means levels in the blood go down.

How much cinnamon do you take?

Studies vary on how effective cinnamon is on the control of glucose levels. Objective studies need to be done. It’s hard to find solid evidence base practice studies in any area of natural health.

Taking at least 1g, but no more than 6g of cinnamon daily might reduce fasting glucose levels by almost 30 percent. Another interesting fact is that it may reduce triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels as well. Because cinnamon may have a drastic effect on your diabetes, always consult your doctor before adding cinnamon to your diet as part of your diabetes treatment plan.

Is one kind of cinnamon better than the others? It’s believed, Ceylon cinnamon, also known as “true” cinnamon, might be better to moderate blood sugar levels after meals and help control type 2 diabetes.

Himalayan Salt and Diabetes

Himalayan crystal salt is the natural form of salt.  Pink Himalayan salt is a lot healthier than iodized salt. It is also known to help prevent diabetes because it aids with the absorption of food from the digestive tract. With better absorption it also helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Table salt also contains a stabilizer in the form of sugar, which will raise your blood sugar levels. (Remember, Shake & Bake? Many of my diabetic clients experienced spikes in glucose because they did not read the label. It contained sugar.) This makes unrefined sea salt a better choice. If you’re diabetic, it’s a better choice because it does not contain any unnatural ingredients which can raise  sugar levels. Nor does it contain aluminum.  Always read the labels on food packages.

Other Natural Remedies

So, what are some of the best recommendations? Here are a few additional points.

• 1. Antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. Although they’re most noted for their ability …
• 2. Chromium.
• 3. Coenzyme Q10.
• 4. Fenugreek.
• 5. Fish Oil.

There are foods which can help in control of diabetes as well. Spinach, kale and other leafy greens are good sources of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C. Increasing vitamin C intake reduces inflammatory markers and fasting blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

I encourage you to explore the natural health approach as a tool to improve your health.