Effect of coffee on blood sugar: raise or lower?

introduction

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people every day. However, there are different opinions and controversy regarding the effects of coffee on blood sugar. Some people believe that coffee raises blood sugar levels, while others believe that it lowers blood sugar. This article will explore this issue and provide relevant evidence to support our understanding of the relationship between coffee and blood sugar.

background

Before we get into the details, we need to understand some basics. Blood sugar refers to the concentration of glucose (also known as the main energy source in the blood) circulating in the body. Normally, the body maintains a stable blood sugar level by regulating insulin and glucose production.

Coffee and insulin

Some early small-scale experiments have suggested that drinking coffee with or without caffeine may increase insulin resistance and, in turn, raise fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. However, the results of these experiments have been inconsistent and have many limitations, such as small sample sizes and incomplete experimental designs.

A recent large-scale study explored this further, finding no significant association between moderate caffeinated coffee consumption and fasting blood sugar levels. Additionally, the study observed no direct link between caffeine consumption and increased insulin resistance.

Coffee and postprandial blood sugar

Postprandial blood sugar refers to the change in blood glucose concentration after eating. Some people believe that drinking coffee may cause postprandial blood sugar to rise, but there is still a lack of sufficient evidence to support this view.

A large cohort survey of more than 1,000 participants showed that long-term moderate caffeine intake was not associated with an increased risk of postprandial hyperglycemia.

Other Impacts

In addition to directly affecting blood sugar levels, coffee may also affect blood sugar metabolism through other pathways. For example, some components in coffee are thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may help improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.

Additionally, some people find that they experience gastrointestinal discomfort after drinking coffee. This discomfort may lead to a loss of appetite or reduced food intake, which can indirectly affect blood sugar levels.

in conclusion

In summary, based on the current evidence, we can conclude that moderate intake of caffeinated coffee has no significant direct effect on blood sugar levels, either increasing or decreasing. However, there is still some variability in terms of individual differences, intake, drinking time, etc.

Therefore, when using coffee as a means of regulating blood sugar, attention should be paid to individual differences, and over-reliance on a single measure to manage blood sugar should be avoided. Working with a doctor or nutritionist to develop a reasonable diet plan and adjusting it according to one's own situation is a more scientific and effective way to manage blood sugar.

References

1. Huxley R, Lee CM, BArzi F, et al. Coffee, DECaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(22):2053-2063.

2. van Dijk AE, Olthof MR, Meeuse JCJL, et al. Blood pressure response to chronic intake of coffee and caffeine: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [published correction Appears in J Hypertens . 2009 May;27(5):1074]. J Hypertens . 2009;27(10):2046-2053.

3. Ding M., Bhupathiraju SN, Chen M., van Dam RM, Hu FB. Caffeinated and Decaffeinated Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and a Dose-Response Meta-analysis.. Diabetes Care .2014 (37) :569–586.