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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although two naturally occurring substances — chromium and cinnamon — have been shown in some studies to improve insulin sensitivity, other studies have failed to find any benefit for blood sugar control or in lowering A1C levels. Because of the conflicting findings, neither substance is currently recommended for diabetes control.

Coping and support Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch158/ch158b.html#sec12-ch158-ch158b-1105. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  2. Your guide to diabetes: Type 1 and type 2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/index.htm. Accessed April 1, 2009.
  3. The dangerous toll of diabetes. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/dangerous-toll.jsp. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  4. Jeerakathil T, et al. Short-term risk for stroke is doubled in persons with newly treated type 2 diabetes compared with persons without diabetes. Stroke. 2007;38:1739.
  5. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: 2009. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/123565990943909Heart%20and%20Stroke%20Update.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2009.
  6. Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2009. Alexandria, Va.: American Diabetes Association. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/vol31/Supplement_1/. Accessed April 1, 2009.
  7. What people with diabetes need to know about osteoporosis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
  8. Xu WL, et al. Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease: A population-based cohort study. Diabetologia. In Press. Accessed April 7, 2009.
  9. Launer LJ. Diabetes: Vascular or neurodegenerative: An epidemiologic perspective. Stroke. 2009;40(suppl):S53.
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  11. Screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Rockville, Md.: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2008;148:846.
  12. Estimated average glucose, eAG. American Diabetes Association. http://professional.diabetes.org/GlucoseCalculator.aspx. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  13. Delahanty LM, et al. Nutritional considerations in type 2 diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  14. Diabetes and women's sexual health. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/women-sexual-health.jsp. Accessed April 3, 2009.
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  16. Sigal RJ, et al. Effects of aerobic training, resistance training, or both on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2007;147:357.
  17. About omnipod. Omnipod.com. http://www.myomnipod.com/products/. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  18. High blood sugar: Definition, symptoms. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=EC92D98E-1321-C844-13EB771367A49526. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  19. What is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome? American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/treatment-conditions/hhns.jsp. Accessed April 7, 2009.
  20. Smoking. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/smoking.jsp. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  21. Anderson RA. Chromium and polyphenols from cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2008;67:48.
  22. Baker WL. Effect of cinnamon on glucose control and lipid parameters. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:41.
  23. International Expert Committee. International Expert Committee report on the role of the A1C assay in the diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:1.

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June 13, 2009

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