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Coffee

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Gwynn

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Can anyone tell me if freshly ground black unsweetened coffee is good for diabetics? And if it is, why.

And would it be better for me than the instant coffees available?

I looked on line and just got confused. Some say it is good others not.
 
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Can anyone tell me if freshly ground black unsweetened coffee is good for diabetics? And if it is, why.
My guess is any effect is small so don't worry too much either way. Drink it if you enjoy doing so, and if you don't, don't. Similarly tea, green tea, etc. I happen to like coffee, which I drink with frothy milk (which definitely has an effect since it's about 10g of carbs) and cinnamon (which doesn't, but I like the flavour).
 
Some people report getting a bit of a BG bump from strong coffeeshop type coffee... but others don’t seem to.

I agree with Bruce - there’s unlikely to be much if any health benefit and while too much coffee is probably not going to do you many favours, a moderate intake is going to be fine I would imagine?
 
If it gives you pleasure, then go for it.
If your BS spikes or you feel unwell, then review. We need to drink to keep hydrated.
Black coffee isn't my favourite, but I have a takeaway cappaccino-on-the-beach (with chocolate) twice a week (covid permitting) which may be worse for T1s. But it's sooooooo.... good. Sometimes BS increases, but that happens anyway.
Enjoy.
 
I spike a couple of mmols if I have a second cup of coffee (with cream) on a morning, which I guess is the stimulant effect triggering my liver to dump glucose. I certainly do feel the effect with my heart beating faster etc so it is a reasonable assumption that it triggers adrenaline release and that causes the liver to output more glucose. I still enjoy a cup of coffee with cream on a morning but if I want a second hot drink I opt for Red Bush tea now as that is caffeine free and I really enjoy the flavour.
 
I drink about 3to4 black no sugar espresso per day first 2 normal then decaf after and various infusions but now and then i cut them right back because i start get blurry eyes because of the caffeine i am not sure about any other side affects.I really enjoy my first coffee with my breakfast .
 
I can't buy coffee ready made because I have a really sensitive sense of taste, but the percolated coffee I make at home seems to have no effect on BS, but I drink about 1 and 1/2 pints a day, 2 level teaspoons of coffee grounds to 12 cups of water, drunk with cream.
During these strange times I have run out of various things from time to time, ground coffee being one of them. A couple of checks showed no alteration in results.
 
A double shot espresso or Americano in the morning ups my BG by 1. A strong tea with no milk doesn’t. In other words, no significance either way.

The coffee is from a bean-to-coffee machine. My taste buds tell me that there is just a trace of sweetness in the coffee. Depends on the bean variety I suppose.
 
No difference in bg, weak or strong, only drink white americano.

Probably drink more coffee than ever did, like Costa & Starbucks, rip off merchants mind.
 
I never drink tea or coffee with milk. I never use Costa or Starbucks if I can avoid it. I prefer Costa, they use better coffee beans. Starbucks has no taste, and rather sickly. More like soap than coffee.
 
Starbucks is awful coffee. They also randomly added sugar to my cappuccino once. I find all their drinks carby even without the unasked for sugar.

I don’t find coffee raises my blood sugar, but I generally only drink it in the morning so it would be hard to separate what’s Foot on the Floor and what’s caffeine.
 
Research suggests it raises BG for type 2's :(


This article says that caffeine CAN affect blood sugars and the study was with the equivalent of two cups of coffee.
I think it is important to remember that we are all different (as the discussion above highlights) and you may be the guy who is not affected.

I don't drink coffee and usually drink herbal tea so caffeine is rare for me. If I drink a can of cola after 6pm, I am still wide awake at 2am. In contrast, my partner (also not a coffee drinker) can have a can of coke (very rare) at 10pm and sleep well.

The lesson for me is to test what the impact is and make an informed decision based on MY reaction to caffeine.
 
This article says that caffeine CAN affect blood sugars and the study was with the equivalent of two cups of coffee.
I think it is important to remember that we are all different (as the discussion above highlights) and you may be the guy who is not affected.

I don't drink coffee and usually drink herbal tea so caffeine is rare for me. If I drink a can of cola after 6pm, I am still wide awake at 2am. In contrast, my partner (also not a coffee drinker) can have a can of coke (very rare) at 10pm and sleep well.

The lesson for me is to test what the impact is and make an informed decision based on MY reaction to caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant.
It causes a liver dump of BG for a flight of fight response, it also supresses insulin production so the body can use the glucose for longer.
We aren't really talking about staying awake, I can sleep anywhere, we are looking at the way type 2's already have insulin resistance, so it would appear we do all have something in common.
I agree the response may be different for type 1's, but this is a general thread, so its probably important to consider the different types of responses that could occur.
 
I am not sure that I see how it can be different for Type 1s as compared to Type 1s. Excess caffeine will have that stimulant effect and trigger the liver dump regardless of type and therefore increase BG levels. Individually people will have different tolerance levels as to what will be enough to trigger that response. For me it is a second cup of coffee on a morning since I normally drink one and drinking cola on an evening because I don't do it regularly. 2 glasses of rum and coke has had a noticeable impact on my levels on the odd occasion when I have indulged, to the point that I was starting to wonder if it maybe wasn't actually diet cola... despite being from a diet cola bottle and diluted half and half with water. May just resort to G&T as that has no impact regardless of how many glasses I have! 😱
 
Starbucks is awful coffee. They also randomly added sugar to my cappuccino once. I find all their drinks carby even without the unasked for sugar.

I don’t find coffee raises my blood sugar, but I generally only drink it in the morning so it would be hard to separate what’s Foot on the Floor and what’s caffeine.

Starbucks is very strong, over strong for some, you can fly after drinking large cup.
 
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