Is Black Coffee Good for Diabetes? Insulin Response and Health Benefits

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Many people rely on their morning cup of coffee to get them going, and people with diabetes are no different. However, drinking coffee can have an impact on your diabetes management.

Blood glucose rises every time you eat or drink, so it’s essential to be aware of how your coffee will affect your body. Foods and beverages that cause a significant spike in glucose circulating in your bloodstream can make managing your diabetes more challenging.

To make your life with diabetes easier, we have examined the research to determine whether drinking black coffee is good for diabetes. This article informs you about coffee’s effect on your glycemic control and why moderate consumption can be beneficial. 

A study examined the effect of abstinence, occasional consumption, and regular consumption of coffee on the development of diabetes mellitus. The results showed that the onset of diabetes was more likely in those who drank little to no coffee than those who were regular coffee drinkers.  

The effects of coffee on people living with diabetes are not as clear. One study found that people with diabetes who drank more than 2 cups of coffee daily reduced their risk of dying from complications of diabetes.

However, research published by the American Diabetes Association shows that coffee can increase the sugar and insulin levels in your blood after drinking a cup of coffee but has no influence on your fasting glucose levels. Therefore, you must monitor the effect of coffee on your readings. 

Black Coffee Nutritional Value per 100g

Black coffee offers very little nutritional value. It contains minor quantities of fats and protein but no carbohydrates, sugar, or fiber, making the calorie content exceptionally low.  

Coffee

Beverages

Keto Friendly

Key nutritional facts (per 100g):

Net carbs

–

Total carbs

–

Fats

0.02g

Protein

0.12g

Calories

1

Glycemic Index

–

Fiber

–

Sugars

–

Glycemic index of black coffee

However, coffee has a glycemic index (GI) of 50, making it a low-GI food. It contains caffeine, which is a stimulant, and caffeine might affect your sugar levels. 

How Does Coffee Affect Blood Sugar?

Peer-reviewed studies show that the caffeine in coffee adversely affects glucose metabolism. People with diabetes who enjoy coffee may experience higher daytime glucose levels and an exaggerated rise in blood sugar after eating.

The exact mechanism for these effects is not understood. Scientists suggest that caffeine may reduce glucose uptake by fat and muscle cells, leaving more sugar in your blood. Another theory is that drinking caffeinated coffee results in the release of epinephrine (adrenaline), which is known to increase sugar levels and raise your heart rate. 

Coffee intake can also influence your insulin sensitivity, reducing it immediately after drinking it, resulting in higher levels of blood glucose. However, over time, regular moderate coffee consumption does not seem to have the same impact. 

Does Coffee Raise Blood Sugar? 

Coffee itself does not raise blood sugar, but drinking coffee is associated with increased glucose levels after a meal containing carbohydrates. A review study also concluded that coffee intake increases average blood sugar levels throughout the day.

People with diabetes must monitor their blood glucose to determine the effect of coffee on their glycemic control. It may be necessary to switch to decaffeinated coffee to avoid the sugar-raising effect of caffeine. 

Caffeine could also have such negative effects as bloating, so try to limit your daily cups of coffee if you see that this beverage makes you feel bloated.

Does Coffee Cause Insulin Resistance?

In healthy people, coffee does not cause insulin resistance. Numerous studies have suggested that coffee consumption does not reduce your body’s response to insulin, and it decreases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That’s why coffee is a perfect beverage for fasting periods.

A review study concluded that it is unnecessary to restrict coffee intake in healthy individuals, those with prediabetes, or people with diabetes. 

It should be noted that drinking coffee can decrease insulin sensitivity in people who don’t have diabetes. However, people who regularly consume 2–4 cups of coffee per day don’t seem to feel any long-term negative effects on their blood insulin or sugar levels.

Which Is Better for Those With Diabetes: Tea or Coffee?

People with diabetes may want to consider drinking tea instead of coffee. However, in healthy people, both tea and coffee are associated with a reduced risk of diabetes when you drink 3 or more cups per day. 

Although tea may also contain caffeine, it doesn’t have the same impact on blood glucose in people with diabetes. Research suggests that tea inhibits the absorption of sugar and carbohydrates from the gastrointestinal system, helping maintain normal blood sugar levels. 

Instead of increasing blood glucose levels after a meal containing carbohydrates like coffee does, tea has been shown to reduce the rise in sugar after eating. Therefore, tea is a better choice than coffee for people who have diabetes. 

Health Benefits of Coffee

Moderate coffee consumption is associated with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of dying from chronic diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. This may be due to its beneficial effects on metabolism. 

Drinking coffee has also been shown to help protect your liver. Coffee drinkers are less likely to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. Additionally, coffee is associated with a lower risk of gallbladder disease. 

Brain health is protected by regular coffee consumption. The incidence of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression is lower in coffee drinkers. 

Keto dieters drink bulletproof coffee to boost their metabolism, and some people even think that coffee and lemon might help to lose stubborn weight. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Black coffee is better for diabetes than coffee with cream and sugar. However, decaffeinated black coffee is the best choice for people with diabetes because caffeine is the compound in coffee that may negatively affect your insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels.

Coffee consumption has been linked to numerous health-related benefits related to the plant chemicals found in your favorite beverage. Therefore, coffee can still reduce your risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, and liver conditions if you have diabetes.