Does cinnamon and honey cure diabetes
Executive summary
Cinnamon and honey have been promoted as a natural remedy for diabetes, and some studies suggest modest metabolic effects, but high-quality clinical trials do not support the claim that the combination cures diabetes [1] [2]. Evidence is mixed: cinnamon shows variable effects on insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose in studies [3] [1], while honey can produce smaller glucose spikes than pure sugars in some trials but still adds carbohydrates and can raise blood sugar [4] [5].
1. What the best clinical trials actually show
Randomized controlled trials that tested honey formulated with cinnamon (often alongside chromium and magnesium) in people with type 2 diabetes failed to demonstrate meaningful improvements in glycaemic control — no significant effects on fasting glucose or HbA1c were observed in the cited crossover trial, although there were improvements in weight and lipids that warrant further study [2] [6] [5].
2. Why some studies and advocates sound optimistic
Laboratory and smaller human studies have identified plausible mechanisms—cinnamon compounds may increase insulin sensitivity and honey and cinnamon both contain antioxidants and anti‑inflammatory compounds—leading to improved markers in some trials or populations, which has been amplified by wellness sites and product marketers promoting “cinnamon honey” as a natural aid [3] [7] [8] [9].
3. The limits of the evidence and conflicting results
Larger and better‑controlled studies report mixed or null results for cinnamon’s ability to lower blood glucose, and when cinnamon is combined with honey in trials the net glycaemic benefit has not been proven; expert sources note the evidence is unclear and professional organizations do not endorse cinnamon as diabetes treatment [1] [3] [2] [5].
4. Safety concerns and real‑world caveats
Cinnamon contains coumarin, which can be hepatotoxic at higher doses and is present in greater amounts in common cassia cinnamon compared with Ceylon cinnamon, creating safety concerns for long‑term high‑dose use; honey remains a concentrated carbohydrate source and can cause hyperglycaemia in some patients despite reports of lower plasma glucose rises compared with pure dextrose in specific studies [10] [3] [5] [4].
5. Where commercial and anecdotal claims diverge from rigorous science
Several of the more glowing articles and blogs that call cinnamon+honey a “sweet solution” or “one of the best natural sweeteners for type 2 diabetes” are commercial or anecdotal and omit caveats about carbohydrate content, study quality, small sample sizes, or null trial endpoints; readers should note the promotional slant in sources such as retail blogs and wellness sites [8] [9] [4] [11].
6. Practical takeaway: does cinnamon and honey cure diabetes?
No credible evidence shows that cinnamon combined with honey cures diabetes; the best available randomized controlled data find no significant improvement in glycaemic control from cinnamon‑formulated honey in people with type 2 diabetes, and professional guidance remains cautious about using cinnamon as a treatment [2] [6] [1] [5]. That said, cinnamon may have modest, inconsistent benefits for insulin sensitivity in some studies and honey may behave differently than pure sugar in limited contexts, but neither replaces proven diabetes therapies or lifestyle measures and both carry risks if used indiscriminately [3] [4] [5].