Can People with Diabetes Drink Coffee

Can people with Diabetes drink coffee? Coffee is a common drink which many people are fond of. Some people suffering from Diabetes are confused as to whether they can continue to have coffee or not. Is the drink harmful for people with Diabetes? Or will coffee help to lower your blood glucose?

While regular coffee intake may help reduce your risk of some diseases, including liver cancer, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, some research has shown that caffeine can have negative effects on individuals with type 2 diabetes. There have been a few studies that indicate that caffeine could affect blood glucose levels. For instance, Duke University researchers found that when a small group of type II diabetics drank caffeine, it caused their blood sugar levels to rise throughout the day, especially after eating. Excessive caffeine can cause anxiety, irritability, and restlessness, which can lead to a rise in blood sugar.

While the Duke study suggests that caffeinated coffee may be a bad habit for diabetics, other studies have shown a decreased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes in those who drink two or more cups per day. To understand why there are puzzling contradictions in these outcomes, remember that coffee is not caffeine alone. Some other ingredients in coffee may prove beneficial as our bodies attempt to control blood sugar, including Magnesium, Chlorogenic acid and Quinides.

So what does this mean for people with Diabetics? If your blood glucose levels are poorly controlled in spite of smart dietary choices, regular exercise and oral diabetic medications, it may prove helpful to switch to decaffeinated coffee as well as to limit your intake of caffeine containing food and drink products.