There’s often confusion about what you should and should not consume as a diabetic. The main idea behind these questions is due to the effect that both liquids and food may have on your blood sugar levels. With coffee being such a beloved beverage, you may feel unsure whether it can affect your blood glucose levels. Some believe that caffeine in coffee may impact blood sugar levels, but in the long term, coffee could prove to be beneficial. In this post, we’ll explore the effects of coffee on blood sugar control.
Coffee, Caffeine, And Blood Sugar
Before examining the impact of coffee on blood sugar, you need to understand that caffeine does not affect everyone the same way. Some people drink coffee and feel a greater sense of alertness and focus afterward. For others, coffee is a sure way to experience jitters, which can be unpleasant and disruptive. Apart from these effects, specific processes occur inside your body when you consume coffee, many of which are related to the caffeine content in your beverage.
In an attempt to test the impact of coffee on blood sugar control, a member of Diet Doctor decided to do a coffee experiment. During the experiment, he implemented a strict bedtime and waking routine and decided to adopt a low-carbohydrate diet. He also didn’t consume anything besides coffee for two hours before and after the beverage. The coffee consumed was black with nothing added to it.
Over the course of the experiment, his blood sugar levels were higher on days when he had coffee than on days when he did not. However, his blood sugar levels were not significantly higher, but rather only slightly higher in most cases.
One thing that needs to be considered here is the fact that caffeine has been shown to improve the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas. By improving their functionality, your pancreas might release more insulin, which could also cause a fluctuation in your blood glucose levels.
Best Way To Drink Coffee As A Diabetic
Coffee is unlikely to cause significant changes in blood glucose levels alone. However, you should take note of what you add to your coffee, as many people do not prefer their coffee black and bitter.
Researchers have found that the average cup of coffee contains about 25 to 30 grams of sugar. This is often the amount of sugar you get when you buy a coffee at your local Starbucks or pick up an iced coffee at your local supermarket. If you prepare your coffee at home, you’ll likely add some sugar. This is often the most significant issue that causes those glucose spikes after you have a cup of coffee – and something you fortunately have control over.
When you decide to have a coffee at a restaurant, ask the waiter to prepare it without sugar and black. This is generally the best way for diabetics to enjoy coffee without worrying too much about their blood glucose levels.
If you find that coffee tends to increase your glucose levels, it might be a good idea to cut back. The recommended upper limit for caffeine intake daily is about 400 milligrams. As a diabetic, keeping your intake lower is a good idea. With this said, there’s usually no need to cut coffee out of your daily life completely.
The Nutritional Profile of Coffee
The compounds in liquids and foods we consume significantly impact blood glucose levels. It’s essential to consider the calories and carbohydrate content of your coffee.
Black coffee with no added sugar, cream, or milk has the lowest calorie and carb content. A standard serving-size cup of black unsweetened coffee contains fewer than one gram of carbohydrates. There are also some types of coffee that contain zero carbohydrates. This same cup of coffee has about 2.4 calories. It’s easy to see how a standard cup of coffee is unlikely to affect your blood glucose levels.
Now, let’s focus on coffee with some cream added to it. When you add cream to your coffee, a standard-size cup will contain about 60 calories. That’s almost 58 calories more than what you consume with black coffee or espresso. The cream also adds to the coffee’s carbohydrate content, adding two grams of carbs to the drink.
The addition of cream to your coffee increases its calories and carbohydrate content. It also adds about 3.5 grams of saturated fat to the serving, a type of fat that you should try to avoid when you are diabetic.
This makes it clear that what you add to your coffee will affect your blood sugar levels more than the caffeine and other natural compounds in the coffee beans. With this said, many people do not enjoy the taste of black coffee without any sweetener. As a diabetic, you have options to consider when adding some sweetness to beverages and food. Several alternative sweeteners are available that won’t necessarily cause you to experience an increase in your blood sugar levels after you have some coffee. In terms of creamers, you should be careful about how much you add to reduce the amount of calories, saturated fats, and sugar you’ll be adding to your cup of coffee.
Bottom Line
Some people may experience a slight increase in blood sugar levels after having coffee, but it’s important to note that caffeine is not the sole component at play here. Many people prefer adding sugar to their coffee, milk, or cream. The additives that you use when preparing coffee may significantly impact how the beverage affects your blood glucose levels.