Last updated on October 18th, 2023 at 04:37 pm
Coffee is good news for diabetes, only if you do not have it. Yes, coffee impacts diabetes… negatively! For people with diabetes and prediabetes, coffee spells nothing but trouble. Not having coffee seems like a contradiction in terms, but it is precisely what research indicates.
Coffee has thousands of natural enzymes including caffeine that affect the body in many ways. Coffee drinkers have high levels of SHBG hormone, i.e. Sex Hormone Binding Globulin. Research has shown that people with high levels of SHBG hormone do not tend to develop diabetes. This conclusive research proves the protective benefits of coffee, but only if you already do not have the disease.
If you have diabetes or you are prediabetic, then coffee is undoubtedly bad for you. Here are three upsetting ways in which drinking coffee impacts diabetes.
- Spike in blood sugar and insulin levels: Coffee increases both blood sugar levels and insulin levels in the body. The caffeine present in coffee is responsible for this rise. This means that coffee will boost sugar levels that are already high in people with diabetes. In diabetes, the body is unable to manage high sugar levels. The cells cannot absorb the glucose required for their functioning. The glucose levels in the bloodstream increase rapidly after meals, and the liver is unable to store this excess blood glucose.
- Avoid post-meal coffee: Caffeine is a known stimulant naturally found in coffee and tea. Coffee increases blood sugar levels not just after having coffee but also after meals in people with diabetes.
- Coffee wreaks havoc on glucose levels: Coffee increases insulin resistance in people with diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin, or it has become resilient to the function of insulin. In either case, coffee increases the resistance to insulin and plays havoc with glucose levels in the body.
High levels of insulin can damage the kidneys, nervous system, and even vision.
Control your coffee intake if you have diabetes. Decaffeinated coffee is an option for those who cannot do without their daily fix of java, but it must be consumed in moderation. Research on the effect of decaffeinated coffee on diabetes is contradictory and inconclusive.
There are a few well-known, tested and science-backed ways to manage your blood sugar if you are already diabetic. These can help you regardless of your coffee consumption.
- Diet – If your diet consists of low sugar, low glycemic index foods then the risk of your blood sugar spiking is decreased by a large factor. This can also help you to slow down or reverse weight gain. That brings us to our next point.
- Weight management – Reducing your weight has been one of the leading factors in long-term diabetes management. People who manage their weight properly and consume a diabetes-safe diet are known to have virtually halted their diabetes and live healthy, normal lives.
- Exercise – Exercising plays a role in both weight management as well as controlling your body’s levels of blood sugar. Regular physical activity can also help against the negative effects of diabetes, such as reducing the risk of heart disease.
If you do not have diabetes but have a family history of diabetes, then regular consumption of decaffeinated coffee may help delay the onset of diabetes and may even protect you from developing the disease.