Caffeine affects every person differently. If you have diabetes or you're struggling to control your blood sugar levels, limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet may provide a benefit.
The study mentioned above found that caffeine causes a short-term decrease in insulin sensitivity (or an increase in insulin resistance). In this situation, caffeine intake can inhibit the body's ability to regulate blood glucose levels, impairing the effectiveness of insulin and exacerbating diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body already doesn't use insulin well. After meals, your blood sugar rises higher than normal. Caffeine may make it tougher to bring it down to a healthy point. This may lead to too-high blood sugar levels.
How Caffeine Affects Blood Sugar. Caffeine can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. This happens because caffeine triggers a hormonal response in our bodies.
If you have type 2 diabetes, this means taking sugary drinks — such as regular soda, sweet tea, and even juice — off the table and replacing them with low-sugar and sugar-free options, including water. If you enjoy swigging bottled drinks, you may be at a loss for how to stay hydrated.
Water is always the best choice, but other good options include vegetable juices and homemade iced teas. Drinks to avoid include alcoholic beverages and soda (even artificially sweetened sodas). Staying hydrated is especially important with diabetes, so make sure that you're drinking enough.
Our study suggests that one way to lower blood sugar is to simply quit drinking coffee, or any other caffeinated beverages. It may not be easy, but it doesn't cost a dime, and there are no side effects," Lane says. The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disorders.
But if you have diabetes, it's different. Since your body doesn't respond to insulin the same as most, your fasting blood sugar reading can go up, even if you follow a strict diet. The boost in sugar is your body's way of making sure you have enough energy to get up and start the day.
Some experts suggest that decaffeinated coffee is the safest option for people with diabetes because it provides the benefits of other coffee components without the potential risks of caffeine. It is also important to note that adding sugar or creamer to coffee increases blood sugar levels.
Popcorn offers people with diabetes a low-sugar, low-calorie snack option. It will not increase a person's blood sugar levels by a significant amount, making it a safe choice between meals. However, people should keep toppings to a minimum and avoid eating excessive portions.
Be wary of taking metformin on an empty stomach
Taking all of your medications first thing in the morning may be the easiest way to remember to take them daily, but if you take metformin on an empty stomach (or only with coffee), it may cause nausea that can last all day.
Diabetics should avoid coke or any soft drinks as much as possible. Coke Zero is sugar-free. However, the sugar substitutes it contains may not necessarily be a healthier option for people looking to reduce their blood sugar levels.
Bananas have a low GI score, and this the fruit to be an appropriate choice for diabetics. Dietitian Upasana Sharma, Head Nutritionist at Max Hospital says, "Banana contains sugar and carbs. But it is rich in fibre and has a low glycemic index. Diabetics can eat banana, but in moderation."
In short, yes, it's safe to drink coffee if you have diabetes. Although the research on coffee's benefits is mixed, as long as you keep an eye on your blood sugar and stick to coffee with less sugar, drinking coffee shouldn't be dangerous. But make sure you limit your caffeine consumption to a reasonable amount.
It is therefore believed that decaffeinated coffee may present the best option for people with diabetes as researchers find it includes the benefits of coffee with some of negative effects that are associated with caffeine.
Dawn phenomenon—people have a surge in hormones early in the morning whether they have diabetes or not. For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike. Dehydration—less water in your body means your blood sugar is more concentrated. Nose spray—some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar.
Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar. One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.
How to get free prescriptions for diabetes medicine. If you take diabetes medicine, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all your medicines. To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need to apply for an exemption certificate. This is known as a PF57 form.