Some people may be confused with the over information regarding coffee and its effects on type II diabetes due to what appears to be contradicting information in the media (1). However what needs to be realized is the fact that coffee contains a large array of varying chemicals and some of them have positive effects on diabetes while others not so much.
The polyphenols found in coffee exhibit antioxidant properties, which according to latest research are beneficial in preventing inflammatory ailments like type two diabetes. Additionally coffee contains the minerals magnesium and chromium. Enhanced consumption of these substances has also been associated with lowering the risks of type 2 diabetes.
A number of studies have found that the risks of developing type 2 are reduced with an increase in coffee consumption. According to one 2009 study employing forty thousand participants found that consuming three cups of coffee a day cut down the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 40% (2).
Another 2014 study focusing on four year intervals and lasting 20 years used over 100,000 participants, found that people who increased their coffee consumption by more than one cup, cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 11%. Furthermore, individuals who cut down on their coffee intake by one cup a day, increased their risk of developing the disease by 17%.
Evidence Points Towards Coffee Helping Protect Against Type II Diabetes
Thus, the evidence gathered so far indicates that coffee offers a protective effect against developing type 2 diabetes over a period of four years.
But, what does coffee do for people who already have type two diabetes? According to one Duke University study, habitual coffee drinkers with diabetes were asked to monitor their blood sugar as they went about their daily chores.
It was discovered that their blood sugar skyrocketed immediately after drinking the coffee while it rose overall by 7.5% for the duration of the day compared to the days on which they did not drink any coffee.
Another 2004 study published in Diabetes Care found that ingestion of caffeine before a meal led to an increase in the post-meal blood glucose in people who had type 2 diabetes.
Yet another 2004 study looked at the effect of coffee on people without diabetes and compared the amounts of insulin in the blood. Participants either drank one liter of coffee a day or totally abstained for one month. The study results showed that those who ingested more coffee had higher blood insulin levels even when fasting (3).
The greater amount of insulin in blood is indicative of insulin resistance. The body continues to release greater amounts of insulin to remove the sugar from the blood.
When considered together, all these studies indicate that caffeine effects different people in different ways.
So how much or little coffee you consume really depends on what your health situation is. If you already have type two diabetes, it is best to limit your caffeine consumption.
On the other hand if you are not a diabetic, then drink up, as caffeine clearly offers protection against many other ailments in addition to preventing the onset of type II diabetes.
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