Coffee in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: can I drink it?

Diabetes mellitus forces people who are responsible for their health to monitor the carbohydrate content in food, because due to the disruption of their metabolism as a result of insulin deficiency, blood glucose levels increase. This also applies to drinks. Coffee is a well-known trigger for the working day for many, giving energy and mood at other times of the day and on weekends. The question arises, is it possible to drink coffee with diabetes type 1 and 2, as well as gestational diabetes, which is detected during pregnancy?

The Effect of Coffee on Blood Sugar Levels

An analysis of the chemical composition of coffee beans will clarify the situation with its effect on blood sugar. The main element of coffee, providing vigor and stimulating the nervous system, is the alkaloid caffeine.

Other biologically active substances include theophylline and theobromine, the latter of which gives the drink its bitter taste. Trigonelline is responsible for the smell and also affects the taste.

It also contains astringents, pectins, macroelements (calcium, potassium, phosphorus), carbohydrates, and glycosides.

The components that can increase blood sugar are carbohydrates, as well as the caloric content of the drink. So, in 100g of natural coffee, its indicators are 29.5g and 331Kcal, respectively. Considering that 1-2 teaspoons are used when brewing, this cannot significantly affect the glycemic indicators.

To be completely sure of this, you need to check your sugar levels before and after consuming it using a glucometer.

Coffee with milk for diabetes

The safest way for diabetics to drink natural coffee is to dilute it with a small amount of milk, without sugar. This process can be elevated to a special pleasant ritual: grind the beans, cook the powder with water in a Turk, adding your favorite spices (cinnamon, cardamom). Heat the milk and whip the foam, combine in one cup.

For those who do not like to drink bitter coffee, you can use sugar substitutes: aspartame, acharin or others. You should not add cream because of its high fat content.

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Instant coffee

Instant coffee is not recommended for diabetics, and it is not very useful for other categories of people. The reason for this lies in the way it is processed. The beans are ground and sprayed in a special chamber, then after drying they are treated with steam. All these production manipulations lead to the loss of their useful properties. In addition, unscrupulous manufacturers can add various additives for greater weight, and flavorings to give aroma.

Green coffee

This is the only type of coffee whose usefulness is not disputed by doctors. Green coffee beans contain chlorogenic acid, which lowers blood glucose levels. It also breaks down fats well, which is an additional bonus, because there are many overweight people among diabetics. Another advantage is that it prevents inflammatory processes. Heat treatment neutralizes all these properties.

Decaffeinated Coffee for Diabetes

The process of removing caffeine from coffee is called decaffeination. There are several ways to obtain it, and not all of them are environmentally friendly. Most often, to make the product cheaper, a chemical solvent is used for this, and the beans "give" their caffeine to it, although a small part still remains.

It is believed that decaffeinated coffee is not capable of causing harm in diabetes, on the contrary, it enhances glucose metabolism. It has a slight diuretic effect, which means that less calcium will be washed out, it will not lead to pressure surges.

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Benefits

Coffee comes in different varieties and preparation methods, so it is impossible to give it a clear assessment. Among its beneficial properties, we can highlight its ability to stimulate brain activity, dilate blood vessels, prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease, and the formation of gallstones. It is believed that coffee is a preventive measure against the formation of cancer cells, including ovarian cancer in women, as well as the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.

The harmful effects of the drink include increased stomach acidity, blood pressure, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and increased heart rate. The production of adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones, when consumed can lead to miscarriages in pregnant women. That is why it is forbidden to drink the drink if you have gestational diabetes.

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Contraindications

Hypertensive patients and pregnant women should give up coffee. It is contraindicated in cases of gastritis exacerbation with increased secretion of gastric juice, as it contains about 30 types of organic acids, especially on an empty stomach, for the elderly (it can cause insomnia, tachycardia), for patients with glaucoma, and with renal failure.

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What can replace coffee if you have diabetes?

A good alternative to coffee is tea. Black tea contains polyphenols, which can improve glycemic indices. Green tea has even more of them, as well as antioxidants, polysaccharides, which slow down the absorption of glucose. This drink also reduces the oxidative process, lowers cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

Hibiscus tea and special herbal mixtures containing compounds similar to insulin have a beneficial effect on the body of diabetics. These include blueberries, burdock, peony, clover, elecampane, and bean pods.

Reviews

Each organism perceives this or that food product in its own way. The same happens with coffee. According to some reviews, the drink does not affect the sugar level if you drink it weak, without adding sugar. Others had to give it up. Everything is individual, you just need to monitor and establish a pattern.