• image.alt
  • With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators

    Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

    read biography

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
  • Living with diabetes blog

  • Feb. 3, 2010

    Caffeine and blood sugar: What's the connection?

    By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

116 comments posted

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

116 comments posted

blog index
  • December 20, 2009 7:06 a.m.

    I drink beer regularly but it doesn't seem to affect my blood sugar levels very much. I am thankful. Is this normal?

    - Greg

  • December 19, 2009 4:20 p.m.

    Simple, healthy recipes from nutrition experts showcase pistachio nuts as the new, high protein, cholesterol-free snack for people living healthy lifestyles. If you’re working on weight management, chronic disease prevention, dealing with heart disease, living with diabetes, managing your blood sugar level, or just living healthy, check it out: http://thegreennut.org/health/index.html High protein, high fiber snacks are great for keeping blood sugar levels steady, and new research shows that pistachio nuts are a great match if you’re looking for healthy snacks, in recipes or out of the package. http://thegreennut.org/news/index.html Celebrity chefs cooking heart healthy, low-fat, high protein recipes with pistachio nuts are really putting some interesting things together for people who want to eat well, and for people dealing with weight management, chronic disease prevention, and heart disease: http://thegreennut.org/recipes/index.html This is an awesome pistachio and salmon lunch or dinner recipe from celebrity chef Jesse Brune. It’s yummy and heart healthy, with lots of protein, fiber, and good fats http://thegreennut.org/recipes/07-pistachio-dusted-roast-salmon.html

    - patty

  • December 6, 2009 5:54 a.m.

    Even drinking my coffee with splenda and half-n-half, if I take my "fasting" level after my first cup I stay within my range- I only see a less than 10 point rise.

    - Bobbi

  • December 2, 2009 9:57 p.m.

    I think its touch and go at first, you need to check your blood sugar often and especially with new foods, i think different foods affect different people different, so practice, I saw one person using sugar in their coffee, you'd think "sugar" hey, thats the cause of my problem...so moderate amount of food and see how it affects you, one day may be different from the next, test test test and test again, this may not be what diabetic educators say, but it works for me, work it out on your terms.

    - Fred

  • December 2, 2009 10:59 a.m.

    I'm curious how caffine affects Type 1 diabetics - my husband drinks a lot of coffee.

    - barb

  • December 2, 2009 3:47 a.m.

    Like Mark below....I also suffer from hypoglycemia. Coffee seems to trigger episodes of low blood sugar. Since I had a serious low blood sugar attack drinking coffee, after taking a fasting blood sugar test (in which I came close to passing out), I've avoided caffeine all together. It was a scary experience.

    - brian

  • December 1, 2009 10:55 p.m.

    When I was in a diabetic clinic, was told I could have black coffee the morning of a fasting blood draw. After repeated spikes, had to quit that and only drink water. After the draw at the clinic, I could have a cup and every time I'd have a spike. Who knows?

    - Pat

  • November 29, 2009 2:49 p.m.

    Does hyperinsulinemia cause tinnitus ? I´ve noticed that coffe and even a low sugar diet increases tinnitus

    - Fabio

  • November 27, 2009 11:27 p.m.

    And, Mark, I have to put creamer in mine, Can't drink it black.

    - terry

  • November 27, 2009 11:25 p.m.

    Mark, I have the same reaction, probably pre diabetic now but coffe really can effe3ct my BS. May drop it dwn.. i have to eat almonds or protein with it.

    - terry

  • November 25, 2009 8:01 a.m.

    I have type 2 diabetes, I also suffer from Essential Tremors.Would coffee be advisable for me?

    - Nelson

  • November 25, 2009 4:14 a.m.

    I think that just the act of eating or drinking anything makes your blood suger rise. The fact that the first thing most people have in the morning is a cup of coffee making this type of study unreliable, Its not the caffeine itself, but the act of ingesting anything you could probably get that result drinking water.

    - Millie

  • November 24, 2009 11:34 p.m.

    I have two large cups (probably 16 oz each) each morning, with one spoon of sugar each and some creamer! But I am NOT having blood sugar spikes. I really thought I would when I took up the coffee habit again after many years, but about 135 is the highest I have gotten. I do take Lantus insulin, and I have Novolog for before meals if needed. I find lately that I am not needing the Novolog often at all. I am mystified. If, of course, I eat something I should not (especially a lot of it), then I really need the Novolog. But that is not often any more. Have been working hard on that. I find that the coffee helps with the frequent migraines I get, and I don't get the glucose spike, so I'm hoping all is good!! I cannot use artificial sweeteners (not even the so-called "natural" ones), so switching from the sugar is not an option. I do, however, use honey in my oatmeal and no glucose spike there either! Yay!

    - Barbara

  • November 24, 2009 7:38 p.m.

    I have had type 2 for 20 years and I haven't noticed spikes from coffee. I did solve the too much coffee habit however. Instead of drinking a whole pot ful during the day, stale and all, I now have a Keureg brewer so can have one fresh cup of coffee anytime I wish. Good too.

    - Betty

  • November 24, 2009 5:50 p.m.

    Ihave been drinking coffee for 70 years and I'm type 1 diabetic for 55 years . Ihave never had a spike in glucose or a drop because of coffee. Wesco

    - wesco

  • November 24, 2009 8:42 a.m.

    I must admit this surprises me. I was told by a Dr. many years ago that caffeine reduced my blood sugar (i am hypoglycemic). And at least i thought my experience bore this out. I rarely drink coffee w/o having a meal first but if I do, I seem more likely to have a blood sugar crash. And I thought that's why lattes were less likely to cause the jitters than black coffee - because of the carbs, protein and fat along w/ the caffeine?

    - Mark

Post a comment
Previous page
  • Print
  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger