Caffeine and those who with type 2 diabetes

Caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda or chocolate all makes it harder for you to control your blood sugar, if you are a type 2 diabetic.

Caffeine, although it has been shown to have a some health benefits such as: burning excess fat, preventing type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke... Remember that what we're talking about is "preventing" or "reducing the risk of disease". So, if you already have type 2 diabetes, these health benefits which we're talking about are no longer true.

How does caffeine affect on blood sugar?
A research team has shown that caffeine can raise blood sugar and insulin levels in people who with the disease.

They gave people who with type 2 diabetes take one 250-milligram caffeine tablet at breakfast and another at lunchtime. That's the equivalent of drinking two cups of coffee with each meal. As a result, their blood sugar was 8% higher than on days when they didn't drink caffeine.

Why it was? Because caffeine affects on the way body responds to insulin, the hormone allows sugar into cells and changed it into energy.

Caffeine reduces insulin sensitivity, it means cells don't respond to the hormone as much as they used to, and they don't absorb as much sugar from the blood after you eat or drink. This causes the body to make more insulin, which results in higher insulin levels after a meal.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't use insulin well. After a meal, blood sugar levels rise higher than normal. Caffeine makes it hard to lower blood sugar to a safe level, leading to higher blood sugar. Over time, this can increase your risk of diabetes complications, like nerve damage or heart disease.

How can caffeine affect on blood sugar?
Caffeine can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. This happens because caffeine triggers a hormonal response in body.

According to scientists, caffeine increases the effects of natural stimulating hormones which give us a feel good, produced by the brain such as serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine. At the same time, caffeine also increases levels of certain stress hormones, like epinephrine aka adrenaline. Epinephrine signals the liver to release stored glucose, which boosts energy but also increases the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream, which is how epinephrine stops cells from processing too much sugar. Epinephrine also prevents the body from making more insulin by blocking the action of a protein called adenosine. This adenosine molecule plays an important role in helping the body make insulin and controlling how cells respond to it.
In addition, caffeine can also affect on your sleep, sleepless can also cause your insulin sensitivity to decrease.

Can people with type 2 diabetes drink coffee?
The caffeine content can vary depending on the type of coffee. But, on average, a 240ml cup of coffee contains about 95mg of caffeine. Even decaffeinated coffee can also contain about 4mg per cup.

Everyone has a different reaction to caffeine, it depends on age, weight or health... The effect of caffeine on blood sugar levels is also different from each person. You should watch how your body responds to caffeine. The average dose of caffeine ranges from 50 to 300 mg, which can help increase alertness, energy and focus. Higher doses can cause negative effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and increased heart rate. For those who are sensitive to caffeine, decaffeinated coffee is a good choice. Decaffeinated coffee also offers the same health benefits as caffeinated coffee.

According to a proven study, a daily cup of coffee can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first place. So, for a person with normal health, the amount of caffeine that can be allowed a day is no more than 400mg, it means no more than 4 cups of coffee. When you drink the 5th cup, the health benefits gained from the previous 4 cups lose it effect.

It's different for those who with type 2 diabetes. Some experts shows that caffeine can still cause a spikes in boold sugar levels. In particularly those who already diagnosed with diabetes, just 200 mg of caffeine may enough cause blood sugar levels to rise or fall.
To find out if caffeine raises your blood sugar, talk to your doctor. Or you can check your blood sugar throughout the morning after drinking a cup of coffee or tea as usual. Then you will test after quitting drinking for a few days. When you compare these results, you'll know if caffeine has an impact.

Finally, when looking at your total caffeine intake, you should also consider how many common foods and drinks contain caffeine, such as chocolate-flavored cereals or coffee, or even painless medicine you are taking, if so.

Compiled and penned by Crocus Media