Shocking news '24,000 diabetes sufferers dying every year unneccessarily'

The news report yesterday ' Wednesday 14 December' in the Daily Express highlighted how many people with diabetes die from the condition and its complications.  24,000 is a shocking amount of people and not all of them would be older people.  This reasons given are mixed with some not receiving the full amount of care by the NHS and others simple not managing their diabetes.  Women according to the report are more likely to not manage their diabetes were men are better than this. Has this something to do with the life responsibilities that some women have i.e. house, children, self etc?  Or is it simply because managing diabetes is not on the top of their priority list.  I would be interested to hear what you have to say about this.

Two important statistics to leave you with.

1. The Express states ' up to 75,000 diabetes die in England every year'

2. The National Diabetes Audit found almost  '450,000 children and younger adults with diabetes have high risk blood sugar levels that could lead to severe complications'

According to various reports this is only going to get worse.

Can cinnamon help to control blood sugar?

According to Jeff O'Connell in his book Sugar Nation he came across this, little know to me anyway, gem of research which  indicates that cinnamon may help reduce blood glucose levels.  He writes 'A pair of studies found promising results, reductions in blood glucose levels of 20 percent or so'  Other studies have also looked at cinnamon for reduction of blood glucose levels but not with the same results. 

Cinnamon has an active ingredient called hydroxychalcone, which seems to improve insulin sensitivity.  Whether it is the cheap  or the expensive version of the spice it does not seem to matter.  Like O'Connell I will be adding it to everything that I can.  Whether proven or not it is a lovely tasting spice and will not do my any harm.  It could even help with my blood glucose levels.