You might have it in your kitchen, but can it really help with blood sugar? Cinnamon is believed to support blood sugar control, especially in people with diabetes. Some studies suggest it may help lower fasting blood sugar levels — those measured in the morning before eating. But other research hasn’t shown clear benefits.

Overall, the results are mixed. While some studies have shown promise, others haven’t found an effect. More research is needed to fully understand how cinnamon affects blood sugar and whether it offers real advantages for people with diabetes. Here’s what we know so far.

The Connection Between Cinnamon, Diabetes, and Blood Sugar

Cinnamon, diabetes, and blood sugar are all connected because they involve insulin. If you have diabetes, you probably already know a bit about insulin, but here’s a quick recap.

Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood into the body’s cells. The cells then use the sugar for energy or store it for later. In people with diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. As a result, sugar builds up in the bloodstream — a condition called hyperglycemia. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to serious health problems throughout the body.

To prevent high blood sugar, people with diabetes may inject insulin or take medications that help their body produce and use more insulin. Scientists are investigating whether a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is found in cinnamon, may increase insulin production and use, but these studies have produced mixed results.

Cinnamon Research Shows Promise, but Results Aren’t Consistent

In one large scientific review, researchers looked at 45 clinical studies on how cinnamon affects blood sugar and cholesterol levels. (People with diabetes often have an unhealthy mix of fats in their blood — low levels of “good” cholesterol, and high triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol.)

In nine studies that looked at whether cinnamon could lower fat levels in the blood, six showed no benefit in people. However, some animal studies showed that cinnamon lowered blood fats significantly.

Another study showed that cinnamaldehyde, a compound in cinnamon, can turn on genes in fat cells that help boost metabolism. This has been seen in mouse fat cells and human fat cells grown in the lab, but it hasn’t been fully studied in people yet.

Some scientists have looked at the leaves of the cinnamon plant, not just the bark. In lab tests, leaf extracts from Ceylon cinnamon helped lower blood sugar levels. The scientists think this might be because of natural plant chemicals like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. But these tests were done in labs, not on people, so we don’t know yet if cinnamon leaf works the same way in humans.

Researchers say larger clinical trials are needed to better understand how cinnamon works in the body, the dosage needed to help people with diabetes, and what the long-term risks and benefits might be.

Other Health Benefits of Cinnamon Are Being Studied

There are several types of cinnamon. Many studies focus on the health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon because it has very low levels of coumarin, a substance that can be toxic in large amounts. Cassia cinnamon, which contains more coumarin, has been flagged by the European Food Safety Authority for health risks like liver and kidney damage and even cancer. However, cassia and other types of cinnamon have also been studied for their potential benefits.

Cinnamon has been studied for possible health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and blood sugar-lowering effects. But more long-term studies and clinical trials are needed to know for sure if cinnamon, especially cassia cinnamon, is safe to consume in large amounts over time.

Here are just a few of the conditions that researchers think cinnamon might be able to help treat:

• Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
• Bacterial and yeast infections
• Cardiovascular (heart) disease, such as high blood pressure
• Immune system problems
• Cancer

Although cinnamon may contain chemicals that can offer health benefits, there are still very few studies in people showing that these compounds can effectively treat diabetes.

Talk to Your Doctor Before Supplementing With Cinnamon

Cinnamon for flavoring and cinnamon supplements are safe, particularly Ceylon cinnamon (also called true cinnamon or Mexican cinnamon), which is low in coumarin. If you’re interested in trying cinnamon for your diabetes, be sure to talk to your doctor about the appropriate dosage. Avoid taking supplements above recommended levels without medical advice.

High amounts of cinnamon may cause side effects such as allergic reactions or digestive issues. Some supplements may contain cinnamon cassia, which may be unsafe for long-term use because of its relatively high coumarin content. There isn’t enough research to know if cinnamon is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

There’s also a moderate risk of drug interactions between cinnamon and diabetes medications, including insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas (like glyburide), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and others. If cinnamon lowers your blood sugar and your medications aren’t adjusted, you could end up with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Because cinnamon hasn’t been shown to consistently improve diabetes symptoms, major diabetes organizations like the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes do not recommend treating diabetes with cinnamon. Always stick to your treatment plan, and don’t make changes to your standard diabetes care or diabetes medications without medical advice.

How DiabetesTeam Members Use Cinnamon

If your doctor suggests trying cinnamon to help with blood sugar, you might be able to add ground cinnamon to your food. If not, you can look for cinnamon extract or capsules. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t test how well supplements work, so the amount and strength can be different in each product. No cinnamon products are approved by the FDA to treat diabetes.

DiabetesTeam members share tips on how they use cinnamon:

• “My visiting nurse told me to boil water with three cinnamon sticks and drink it as tea every day. Well, I can say I have done just that. Recently, I was at 8.0 and now I’m back at 6.9.”
• “I take Ceylon cinnamon capsules to lower my sugar, as prescribed by my doctor.”
• “I just finished a breakfast smoothie of blueberries, yogurt, spinach, cinnamon, and some flax.”
• “I put apples in the microwave with stevia, water, butter, and cinnamon. I slice the apples. Cinnamon is supposed to be good to slow sugar. I am going to order some Ceylon cinnamon.”

But not everyone is convinced that cinnamon is helpful for their diabetes. One member shared their skepticism: “I tried to see if the cinnamon tea would lower my blood sugar. Nope.”

Of course, personal anecdotes aren’t a substitute for personalized medical advice. If you want to try cinnamon as part of your diabetes treatment plan, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you and won’t interact with other medications you’re taking.

Cinnamon should not be considered as a replacement for other proven treatments for diabetes, such as medication, diet, and exercise. Although cinnamon seems safe for most people, there’s not enough evidence to show that it’s effective in lowering blood sugar levels.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On DiabetesTeam, the social network for people with diabetes and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with diabetes.

Do you have questions about cinnamon? Do you use cinnamon for your diabetes? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.