--- title: "Cinnamon for blood sugar: Ceylon, cassia and the labels" description: "Ceylon or cassia? What the NIH says about cinnamon for blood sugar, why the type matters for your liver, and which supplements tell you the type they use." canonical: https://glucosebench.com/cinnamon-for-blood-sugar alternate_html: https://glucosebench.com/cinnamon-for-blood-sugar language: en-US last_updated: 2026-09-27 type: guia --- # Cinnamon for blood sugar: why the type on the label matters 1. [Home](https://glucosebench.com/) 2. [Guides](https://glucosebench.com/guides) 3. Cinnamon for blood sugar: why the type on the label matters Cinnamon sounds like the safest ingredient on a blood sugar label, and as a spice it usually is. Which cinnamon, and how much, are two questions most labels skip. By **GlucoseBench editorial team**Updated September 27, 2026 ![Cinnamon for blood sugar: why the type on the label matters](https://glucosebench.com/img/guia-cinnamon-for-blood-sugar-640.webp) Short answer Cassia is the most common cinnamon sold in North America; "true" cinnamon is Ceylon. The NIH's complementary health center (NCCIH) says it's unclear whether cinnamon supplements help with diabetes, and that study results are hard to read because it's often unclear which species was tested. The practical difference is coumarin: cassia contains it, and it "might cause or worsen liver disease" in large amounts, while Ceylon may contain only a trace. Four products we've reviewed list cinnamon; two say it's cassia, two don't say, and none gives an amount. ## Ceylon vs. cassia, according to the NIH Detail Ceylon cinnamon Cassia cinnamon Latin name Cinnamomum verum (also C. zeylanicum) Cinnamomum aromaticum (also C. cassia) Where it grows Mainly Sri Lanka Southeastern Asia How common Known as "true" cinnamon The most common type sold in North America Coumarin May contain a trace amount Contains coumarin; some products contain high levels Who should be careful Larger amounts during pregnancy are considered unsafe People with liver disease, with prolonged use Source: NCCIH, "Cinnamon" (last updated November 2024), read on September 27, 2026. ## Does cinnamon help with blood sugar? NCCIH's cinnamon page says "research doesn't clearly support using cinnamon for any health condition" and that "it's unclear whether cinnamon supplementation is helpful for diabetes or weight loss." Part of the problem: "it's often unclear which species or part of the cinnamon plant was tested." NCCIH's diabetes page adds that a 2019 review of 16 studies (1,098 participants) found cinnamon "helped reduce fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes", while the authors said "more research with standard cinnamon formulations is needed." ## Safety in plain terms ### As a spice NCCIH calls cinnamon "likely safe when consumed in the amounts commonly used in foods". At supplement doses below 6 grams a day, it "does not appear to pose a health risk". ### Cassia and the liver Coumarin in cassia "might cause or worsen liver disease". Most cassia doesn't have enough to cause trouble, but prolonged use "could be an issue for sensitive people, such as those with liver disease." ### With diabetes drugs NCCIH warns that "using herbal supplements such as cinnamon, St. John's wort, or aloe with conventional diabetes drugs can cause unwanted side effects." Ask your doctor first. ## The products on this site that contain cinnamon None gives an amount. Two tell you the type. Each has a full review. Product Type named Where it appears Amount Glyco Pulse Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) bark In a 528 mg blend of 13 ingredients Not disclosed Insufend Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) bark In a 525 mg blend of 7 ingredients Not disclosed GlucoTrust Not stated Named on the sales page; no label published Not disclosed GlucoTrust Bites Not stated Named as a cinnamon extract on the sales page; no label published Not disclosed From each official page and label, read on September 25 and 27, 2026. The two blends with a printed weight, Glyco Pulse and Insufend, are about half a gram each, and neither says how much of it is cinnamon; GlucoTrust and the Bites give no weight at all. Insufend and both GlucoTrust products are reviewed on this site but not recommended, for reasons explained in their reviews. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the difference between Ceylon and cassia cinnamon?** They're different species. Ceylon (Cinnamomum verum) grows mainly in Sri Lanka and may contain a trace of coumarin; cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum) is the most common type in North America and contains more coumarin, which can affect the liver in large amounts, according to NCCIH. **Does cinnamon lower blood sugar?** A 2019 review found reductions in fasting blood glucose, but NCCIH's cinnamon page says it's unclear whether cinnamon supplements help with diabetes. It shouldn't take the place of anything your doctor prescribed. **Is cinnamon safe with diabetes medication?** NCCIH warns that herbal supplements such as cinnamon, used with diabetes drugs, can cause unwanted side effects. Ask your doctor before adding a cinnamon supplement. **Which cinnamon is in blood sugar supplements?** Of the four products here that list cinnamon, Glyco Pulse and Insufend say cassia. GlucoTrust and GlucoTrust Bites don't say which type. ## Related pages Reviews ### [Glyco Pulse review: a detailed label, and the longest caution list](https://glucosebench.com/glyco-pulse) Glyco Pulse is a once-a-day capsule sold only in the US. Read more Reviews ### [GlucoTrust and GlucoTrust Bites: what the pages say, and what they promise](https://glucosebench.com/glucotrust) GlucoTrust is a capsule you take before bed; GlucoTrust Bites is a chewable tablet. Neither publishes a supplement facts panel. Read more Guides ### [The best blood sugar supplements we reviewed, and the four we left out](https://glucosebench.com/best-blood-sugar-supplements) Our top pick is Glyco Pulse, because it publishes a detailed label with 100 mcg of chromium and names every ingredient in its blend; it ships only in the US, and its own… Read more Updated September 27, 2026. [See our full method](https://glucosebench.com/how-we-choose) --- ## GlucoseBench - GlucoseBench, published by Grupo Marfre Automação e Tecnologia (Contagem, Brazil) - Email: contact@glucosebench.com - Home: https://glucosebench.com/ - llms.txt: https://glucosebench.com/llms.txt · llms-full.txt: https://glucosebench.com/llms-full.txt · sitemap: https://glucosebench.com/sitemap.xml