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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Feb. 3, 2010
Caffeine and blood sugar: What's the connection?
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
I love coffee; it's one of my favorite vices. The sight and smell of a cup of freshly brewed, rich, dark brown liquid java, first thing in the morning, is a sight to behold. Other than the caffeine, coffee seems like a pretty benign beverage. In fact, I've been hearing a lot of good things about it lately.
A large observational study recently found that people who drink coffee appear to have a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. An article in Diabetes Self-Management relates this reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes to the possibility of antioxidants in coffee.
In visiting with some patients, they say coffee causes their blood glucose to rise. That doesn't make any sense to me at first, because coffee without cream/sugar doesn't have any carbohydrates or calories.
"Caffeine impairs insulin action but not glucose levels in young, healthy adults, but people with type 2 diabetes may experience a small rise particularly after meals," says Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist. The amount of caffeine that causes this effect is about 250 milligrams — or the equivalent of 2 to 2 1/2 cups (473 to 591 milliliters) of plain, brewed coffee — a day.
Twenty years ago, a serving of coffee was 1 cup. Today, it's often 2 cups. Maybe we don't need to cut coffee completely out of our daily routine, just pay a little more attention to portions.
Doesn't it seem like about the only thing that doesn't affect your blood glucose is water?
Does anyone remember Mrs. Olsen from the 70's coffee commercials? I wonder if she had type 2 diabetes.
Please share whether caffeine affects your blood glucose.
Have a great week.
Regards,
Nancy
109 comments posted
July 15, 2011 6:44 p.m.
I am an active 62 year old female. Walk and hour three times a week and swim twice a week. I have recently experienced higher blood sugar in the mornings and blurry vision in one eye only. I reduced my calories drastically and I lost weight, eating only one slice of bread during the day and no other starches. My problems kept getting worse. Higher sugar levels in the AM and increased blurriness. Scared as could be I went to see both an opthalmologist and an endocrinologist. My sugar, as it turns out is normal but I am pre-diabetic. My endocrinologist suggested that I am not eating enough protein and starving myself. Hence the severe hunger pains. Coffee and toast once a day is spiking my sugar. Adding proteins and snacks is helping. Thanks to the doctor who believed me when I told her what I was eating instead of looking at me sideways and giving me that "I know you are lying look." I am seeing again out of the left eye.
- A.
July 7, 2011 11:17 a.m.
I'm a Type I diabetic and am on an insulin pump. I also wear a DEXCOM monitor. I too love the smell and taste of coffee. I usually have 2 to 2.5 cups a day and yes my sugars do spite. I've learn to treat myself before consuming. However, I've been told there are no studies that track/measure the impact of caffine on glucose spites for Type I or II diabetics? Is this true, and if so, why not?
- Tim
June 30, 2011 4:35 p.m.
I'm type II diabetic. Coffee most definately raises my blood sugar. I now drink a mug of coffee late morning if I need one. I've also switched to Yerba Mate tea which has caffine but is calming. Also please stay away from agave. Very refined and very bad for diabetics. I use stevia or xylotol.
- Chris
June 6, 2011 9:52 a.m.
Lover watermelon, is back for me, just diagnozed with tpye 2
- judith
May 26, 2011 9:53 a.m.
Starting with a normal range fasting blood sugar (e.g less than 120), in the morning when I drink a shot of espresso with Splenda, with no other carbs or food consumed, my sugar skyrockets up to the 250s within a couple of hours. (I'm type 1 on a pump.) Interesting reading the comments below - makes me wonder whether a formal study been done on this for Type 1, but based on feedback below, it sounds like there's definitely an impact. Would be helpful to know how to bolus/wave for this.
- Nancy
May 21, 2011 3:25 p.m.
check out this research group
- help find a cure
April 11, 2011 1:14 p.m.
I love coffee too. So much so that at times it is all I have for breakfast because it raises my BS so high. I know it isn't the right thing to do with my type 1 but I am a creature of living life to love life. It may shorten it, but I will enjoy while I can.
- Michelle
April 10, 2011 2:05 a.m.
Diabetic type II. I take Metformine 2000mg daily and recently started to take long lasting Insulin. I am 60 years old. I drink coffee from my childhood. Just love it. If my sugar gets low coffee is the best to rise it. It works right away. I drink coffee with milk if I do have one or with cream. I will not say that it is coffee rise my sugar level which I do have after food. It is the same with coffee or without, just high. I always used to exercise till I got heart attack, I use healthy life style, but my weight is 250Lbs and no one pounds was lost after I got additional 100Lbs about 10 years ago. I am happy that I do not get more.
- irina
April 8, 2011 8:27 a.m.
a 68 year old male with type 2 says yes, dammnit
- Gary
March 11, 2011 8:29 a.m.
Just a reminder.... WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!! I had hypoglycemia at age 28 (w/family history of diabetes). During a physical at age 50 I was told I was diabetic. The level was over 300. Second opinion; the same. I was told by a dietitian that we are all different, I would need to try different things to see how they effected ME. I have found this to be true during the 17 years I've been playing with it. I am in good physical condition, no drugs, Diet and Exercise.. Talk with your Dr. and get a good dietitian and talk with them. Good luck...
- Fred
March 6, 2011 9:55 a.m.
I am an avid coffee drinker. i also have type 1 diabetes with traits of type 2. I was shocked to read this article and it makes more since now once i think about the rise in my glucose levels by lunch time..
- beth
February 25, 2011 1:27 p.m.
I have had my blood sugar go from 85 (fasting) to over 130 within 10 minutes of my morning coffee. I assumed it was from the Agave syrup (which claims to be low glycemic). Then on the Today Show I learned Agave raises trygliceride levels. So just this week, I've gone back to using 1 tsp. sugar. Is there anything that's safe to eat these days?
- Kristen
February 16, 2011 10:24 p.m.
I drink one large cup (mug) in the morning with flavored cream before breakfast. I find that my glucose level is allready at the norm - high for 2hr AFTER the meal, and I didn't even eat yet!
- Sherri
February 12, 2011 5:31 a.m.
It has always spiked me
- FoggyPebble
January 31, 2011 12:20 p.m.
I don't have diabetes yet, but both of my parents do and grandparents on both sides. I have hypoglycemia (age 37, healthy weight) and if I drink too much coffee (more than 3/4 cup) I crash hard within an hour or so and I'm starving and shaky from low blood sugar. I only like coffee w/ sugar & cream, so I'm currently just trying to cut coffee out. But it's good to hear that you found the same thing...that small doses might be o.k. Thanks.
- Jessica
January 20, 2011 8:18 a.m.
This morning, blood glucose pre standard 12 coffee, unflavored, black: 121. Post coffee: 142. What? Maybe watching the morning local news and weather was...stressful? This is typical rise in BG for me, age 62, physically fit, working professional.
- linda
January 6, 2011 3:34 p.m.
Bob, there are laboratory blood tests that can be done to determine whether or not you are a type 1 or 2 diabetes. Ask your primary provider about it.
- Nancy and Peggy
January 1, 2011 2:36 p.m.
35 years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. The treating doctor prescribed a small amount of insulin (4 units NPH/day) rather than an oral medication. His stated logic was that I would eventually need insulin anyway. Over the years, my insulin need has increased to 66 units/day. About four years ago I was prescribed an insulin pump. I have been asked, many times, if I have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Doctors I've seen can't seem to agree. What say you? This matters to the VA.
- Bob
December 27, 2010 2:20 p.m.
I have hyperinsulinemia - my body over-produces insulin. When I have caffine, depending on the amount, I have almost an immeadiate hypoglycemic attack.
- Hayley
November 16, 2010 12:26 p.m.
I am insulin dependent. If my fasting blood sugar is a little on the low side, all I have to do is have my morning coffee and I get right where I need to be.
- Tammie
October 19, 2010 9:10 p.m.
I have diabetes, and I like coffee, I like the smell of coffee, and I have coffee in the morning or in the evening, and I find it will not effect my blood sugar level, I only use splenda, no problem, I'm taking metformin, and glimapride
- Evelyn
October 12, 2010 5:12 p.m.
It is logical that caffeine would increase blood sugar. Caffeine increases cortisol levels, which causes that "fight or flight response" meaning the liver dumps a bunch of stored sugar into the blood. So the pancreas needs to release a lot of insulin to compensate for the excess sugar. In my opinion, this is undesirable and could cause insulin resistance.
- Sidra
October 4, 2010 10:18 a.m.
I have noticed a rise in my am blood glucose after drinking about 12 oz coffee, sweetened with Splenda and with fat-free coffeemate added. Sugars rise from about 85 to about 180, about 15 minutes after drinking it, without any food consumption. I am currently on metformin and actos. Haven't noticed any crash later.
- Mindy
October 1, 2010 9:11 p.m.
I have been a type 2 diabetic for 15 years and currenetly on Actos. When I drink coffee, I do so with Splenda & non dairy creamer. I do notice a little hike in my sugar afterwards, but later my sugar will drop.
- Ann
September 30, 2010 8:50 p.m.
I am a juvenile diabetic for 55 years on a insulin pump. My morning BS after breakfast were always high. (I eat 20 carbs + 1 cup of black coffee, with a BS of 200 an hour afterward) Thankfully, my pump trainer, told me many of his patients are "caffeine sensitive" & to bolus insulin to compensate for the caffeine. How much insulin? Consult your doctor or dietitian for recommendations. This was excellent advise, for I'm no loner plagued with the morning BS highs. Hope this helps!
- Jo-Anne
109 comments posted