Whether it’s coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate, many people consume caffeine on a daily basis. For healthy people, this is usually a harmless treat. But if you have type 2 diabetes, caffeine may make it harder to control blood sugar levels.
A growing body of research shows that people with type 2 diabetes respond differently to caffeine.
Caffeine can raise blood sugar and insulin levels in people with diabetes.
One study looked at people with type 2 diabetes. Subjects took a dose containing 250 mg of caffeine at breakfast and again at lunchtime. This was equivalent to drinking 2 cups of coffee at each meal. The results showed that their blood glucose was 8% higher than those who did not consume caffeine, and their postprandial blood glucose values were higher.
This is because caffeine affects the body’s response to insulin, a hormone that promotes the entry of sugar into cells and its conversion to energy.
Caffeine may reduce insulin sensitivity. This means that cells are less sensitive to the hormone than normal, and they don’t take up enough sugar from the bloodstream after eating. This can lead to the body producing more insulin and higher blood sugar levels after a meal.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body is no longer able to use insulin properly. After a meal, blood sugar can be higher than normal. Caffeine may make it more difficult to lower it to the normal range, which can lead to high blood sugar levels. Over time, this may increase the risk of complications from diabetes, such as nerve damage or heart disease.