Coffee is not just a simple everyday drink as it also provides various health benefits such as lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Short Answer: Yes, moderate coffee consumption is OK for people with diabetes.
There are a few studies suggesting drinking coffee, whether decaf or regular, can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
However, there are mixed opinions if coffee really is a suitable beverage for diabetics.
The reason is, caffeine can either increase or decrease blood sugar levels. For instance, consuming about 200 mg of caffeine can potentially cause a spike in your blood sugar.
In this article, we’ll investigate further why coffee may or may not be good for people with diabetes. Hopefully, after reading you’ll be more cautious around coffee.
If you’re ready, let’s begin!
Can Diabetics Drink Coffee?
Yes, diabetics can drink coffee!
Although there are a series of debates about coffee for diabetics, I’d say it’s perfectly safe to drink coffee in moderation.
Here’s the catch though…
Taking a caffeine capsule before eating can result in higher post-meal glucose levels and increased insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes.
Of course, other factors such as genetics and the body’s ability to metabolize caffeine can contribute to the result too.
In that sense, I recommend consulting the doctor before drinking anything caffeinated especially when you have type 2 diabetes.
Why Diabetics Should Not Drink Coffee?
Diabetics should not drink coffee because caffeine makes it harder to bring your blood sugar levels to a healthy point.
High blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes complications such as heart disease or nerve damage.
The caffeine in coffee can raise blood sugar especially for those with type 2 diabetes.
If you are a diabetic and you consume two cups of coffee during breakfast and lunchtime, expect your blood sugar to go up to 8% compared to days when you didn’t take caffeine.
However, for most healthy people, caffeine may not affect blood sugar, and ingesting up to 400 mg of caffeine per day appears to be safe.
Still, you should consider your condition before drinking a cup of coffee.
Watch the video below to learn more if coffee is safe for diabetics.
Is Decaf Coffee OK For Diabetics?
Yes, decaf coffee is OK for diabetics.
In fact, experts believe that decaffeinated coffee is the safest option for people with type 2 diabetes because of its coffee component without the risk of caffeine.
Also, note that adding sugar and creamer to your coffee can increase blood sugar levels.
Generally speaking, you need to choose drinks without added sugar to remain on the safe side.
But what else can you have?
Keep reading!
What Is The Best Drink For Diabetics?
Here’s a list of diabetes-friendly drinks that you can enjoy at home or while dining out:
- water
- tea
- unsweetened coffee
- low fat milk
- vegetable juice
- green smoothie
- sugar-free lemonade
- kombucha
My personal preference is unsweetened coffee as it’s one of the healthiest and they’re easy to make too!
Read here to learn more about the benefits of black coffee.
Which Coffee Is Best For Diabetics?
Decaffeinated coffee is the best available option for diabetics.
So does that mean you cannot enjoy fancy mochas or lattes from Starbucks and Dunkin donuts once in a while?
Of course, one can enjoy a special drink from a coffee store as long as the calories remain under 2000.
An average Starbucks mocha has about 25 grams of sugar, which is equal to 100 calories and still within the recommended intake.
You shouldn’t go beyond the recommended level of intake to avoid potential health issues.
Still, the best option for me is plain black coffee!
Is Bulletproof Coffee Safe For Diabetics?
Yes, bulletproof coffee in moderation is safe for diabetics!
Moderate consumption of bulletproof coffee can help lower blood glucose levels and make you feel less hungry throughout the day.
However, I’d say it’s not a good idea to consume it every morning as you need a nutritionally balanced meal to start the day.
Still, it depends on your preference. Anyway, the body’s reaction to sugary food and drinks is subjective.
No worries though, bulletproof coffee in moderation is perfectly fine for diabetics!
Here’s a quick and easy bulletproof coffee recipe that you can try at home.
Which Fruit Is Good For Diabetes?
If you are looking for a diabetic-friendly treat, fruits are amongst the healthiest choice for you. They’re loaded with minerals and vitamins that help fight type 2 diabetes and regulates blood sugar.
Here are the healthiest fruits that you can have if you are diabetic:
- berries
- tart
- peaches
- apricot
- apple
- orange
- pears
- green kiwi
These fruits are all safe for those with diabetes as each of them is loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are beneficial in battling certain diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Amongst my favorites on the list are apples and oranges! They’re a great source of vitamin C and have a refreshing taste which I really love.
Which is Better For Diabetics? Tea or Coffee?
I’d say coffee is more beneficial for people with diabetes although both beverages are considered helpful in improving insulin sensitivity.
Insulin sensitivity refers to the body’s sensitivity to insulin which varies from person to person. A test can be done to determine how sensitive you are to insulin.
According to a study conducted by Harvard researchers, it was found that people who increase their coffee consumption to one cup a day had an 11% chance of lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, those who reduce their intake had a heightened risk of developing diabetes to 17%. Also, no difference was noticed with those that are drinking tea.
It’s not really that clear why coffee has this effect as there is another study pointing to coffee as something that raises blood sugar.
In other words, more research should be done to prove which one between tea and coffee is a better beverage for diabetics.
Read here to view my detailed comparison between tea and coffee.
Diabetic-Friendly Coffee
Here’s a diabetic-friendly coffee recipe that I really like:
All you need is the following:
- 2 teaspoons coffee powder (I use Nescafe)
- 8 cubes ice
- 2 tablespoons low fat cream
- 3 drops liquid stevia
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup whipped cream
- 2 tiles dark chocolate
Bonus Tip: You can buy most of the ingredients on Amazon.
The next thing to do is mix all the ingredients in a jar and grind it until you get a slush consistency. You have to grind it until you make a chocolatey, java chip frappuccino-style cold coffee.
That’s about it! Pour it in a coffee mug and top it up with half a cup of whipped cream.
Voila, enjoy your diabetic-friendly cold coffee frappe!
What Drink Lowers Blood Sugar?
Tea offers perks for people with diabetes.
In fact, some studies have concluded that drinking three or more cups of tea can lower the risk of developing diabetes.
And speaking of tea, here are the different teas that can help lower blood sugar in people with diabetes:
- black tea
- green tea
- chamomile tea
- ginger tea
- hibiscus tea
- rooibus tea
- peppermint tea
Whatever tea you choose, keep in mind to keep your beverage sugar-free if you are diabetic.
Green, herbal, or black tea are amongst my top choices as they’re easy to find and super healthy.
Also, bear in mind to drink in moderation as tea is also loaded with caffeine which could be dangerous if you overconsume.
And true enough, headache is one of them!
Conclusion
So, moderate coffee consumption is safe for diabetics.
Even though coffee is known to help lower the risk of developing a certain type of diabetes, it is essential to drink moderately to prevent adverse effects from occurring.
Bear in mind, people do have different reactions to caffeine and in that sense, you should learn to listen to your body and stay back if necessary.
The good news is, you can prepare your own cup of diabetic-friendly coffee using healthy ingredients. However, you need to be mindful of added sugar as it can cause a spike in your insulin levels.
If dining out or thinking of preparing your coffee at home, you should choose something that is low on sugar or almost sugar-free.
Frankly, the best diabetic-friendly coffee that I love the most is the cold coffee frappe. It is refreshing and the taste is superb!
You should try one too!