Nothing beats a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning. But have you ever noticed how your diabetes doesn’t always agree with you?
Is your blood sugar skyrocketing after your first cup of coffee? Or do you require more insulin when you have coffee for breakfast? You are not alone! I enjoy coffee, but I’m aware that it’s not good for my blood sugar. By the way, this isn’t all that shocking. In this article, I’ll go through the effects of coffee on diabetes in further detail.
What Effect Does Caffeine Have On Your Body?
Do you believe that the caffeine in Coke, Red Bull, or coffee only delivers an energy boost? The truth is a little more complex. Caffeine, after all, causes a series of bodily responses.
1. Caffeine as a Rest Disruptor
Your brain has adenosine receptors (AR), which aid in the relaxation of your body. They slow down cell activity, make you drowsy, and help your body recover from strenuous exercise! Caffeine interferes with the action of those built-in “resting receptors,” keeping cell activity high, raising energy levels, and inhibiting sleep.
2. Caffeine Affects your Hormones
Caffeine increases the synthesis of catecholamines, which are hormones generated by your adrenal glands in response to emotional stress and physical exercise. Adrenaline is one of these hormones. And this has ramifications for your blood sugar levels!
3. The Role of Adrenaline
Adrenaline is released during many stressful situations, such as a competition, a roller coaster ride or a car accident. Adrenaline keeps you running during peak periods by causing your liver to release some of its stored energy.
After all, your liver has a glycogen reserve. Throughout the day, glycogen is broken down, transformed to glucose, and released as fuel. This is generally done in little doses, between meals, to ensure that your brain gets the glucose it requires to function continuously.
A stressful event, like a cross-fit exercise, an accident, or a cup of coffee, causes your liver to release a huge amount of glycogen. That explains why caffeine affects your blood sugar levels.
A Science Experiment!
This impact can also be seen in scientific study. A small study of 10 people with type 2 diabetes examined the influence of regular coffee consumption on insulin levels.
All of the subjects were heavy coffee consumers, averaging 4 cups per day. During the trial, they ceased doing that. Half of the participants were given caffeine pills containing 250 mg. A placebo was provided to the rest of the group.
As a result, The patients’ blood sugar levels were 80 percent higher on days when they consumed coffee. Furthermore, their blood sugar spiked more sharply after each meal than on non-caffeine days.
So Better No Coffee?
Do diabetics avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages? It is not required! Caffeine, like other items that alter your blood sugar should, nevertheless, be avoided if possible. The fact that black coffee and coke zero have no calories does not mean that they should be consumed freely.
On average, 200 grams of caffeine will have an effect on your blood sugar level. This equates to 1-2 cups of black coffee or 3-4 cups of black tea.
However, everyone is unique. Some people feel a difference after only one cup, while others may drink many without an issue. It’s all about knowing what coffee does to your blood sugar.
Do the Test!
Do you have a normal blood sugar level when you wake up? Then over the following two hours drink a cup of coffee and monitor how your blood sugar reacts to it.
Alternatively, see how your body reacts if you skip your morning coffee. Are your blood sugar levels simpler to control? Do you require less insulin? Then consuming less coffee is a significant step forward for you!
Prefer The Afternoon!
Check to see whether the time of day you consume coffee has an effect. Most diabetics have some insulin resistance in the morning, which gradually reduces over the day. That first cup of coffee in the morning can be the catalyst for dangerously high blood sugar levels. Instead, postpone your coffee break until the afternoon.
Watch Out For The Extras
A cup of coffee includes enough sugar to raise your blood sugar even higher. Coffee drinkers with diabetes would be wise to gradually acclimatize their taste buds to pure coffee. I know that at first, black coffee tastes like bitter muck. That’s because you’re used to sipping it as a sweet treat.
Tip: For the next two weeks, avoid using sweetener or milk in your coffee. You’ll quickly find that you’re starting to love the clean taste. Promise!
Coffee Against Lows!
Do you frequently have low blood sugar levels during or after exercise? Then drinking a cup of coffee is not a bad idea. One cup an hour before a strenuous aerobic activity will help avoid low blood sugar without requiring additional calories or carbs. It should be noted that not all workouts will drop your blood sugar.
Apply this strategy just to the appropriate form of sport, and monitor your blood sugar levels on a frequent basis. Also, keep in mind that everyone’s body reacts differently.
Switch To Decaf!
Caffeine is an addictive drug. Withdrawal is difficult and might result in headaches. Switch to decaf! Take a sip! You will feel a lot better after two weeks.
I’ve been drinking decaf coffee for years and no longer miss normal coffee. Choose a version that you truly enjoy as a treat for yourself. Surprisingly, decaf coffee still contains some caffeine, but not enough to influence your blood sugar level.
Understand that each person will react differently, and that a reaction to me will not necessarily elicit the same response to you. It’s all about finding a happy medium, just like everything else in our diabetic life.