Properties of Coffee and How its Caffeine can Effect on Blood Sugar?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and it has properties that make it very characteristic.

People with diabetes have to take care of their diet and plan it to avoid spikes in blood glucose that make it difficult to control. Although this does not mean that they cannot eat everything, it is true that some foods or ways of preparing them must be restricted to keep it under control more effectively.

In any case, it will be our medical professional or diabetes specialist who will help us in this task, as well as to modify the diet if it does not fit our needs.

There are certain types of food that are widespread, and that are also associated with specific times of the day and acquired habits that are difficult to get rid of. This is the case of coffee, a type of infusion that is consumed regularly in the morning or after meals, and which has become so common that many people are unaware of its benefits and properties.

Here we will not go into detail about the different varieties of coffee such as Arabica or Robusta beans, about the type of grinding or roasting, or about the characteristics of the coffee trees. What we will recommend is to drink natural coffee, avoiding roasted coffee as much as possible, since they undergo a roasting process in which sugar is used.

But if we have diabetes, can we drink coffee? We'll tell you then.

Properties and Benefits of Coffee

Coffee is a type of infusion that is obtained from roasted and ground beans (to different degrees, depending on the grain and type) of the coffee tree, a type of bush that provides these fruits. Although it is usually drunk hot, we can also drink it cold or with ice.

What makes coffee such a popular and widespread drink beyond its flavor is caffeine, a substance that stimulates the central nervous system and whose best-known effects are a slight increase in energy and the feeling of being more awake and alert. Hence, it is the favorite drink of many people to drink in the morning, or during work.

Coffee (and Caffeine) Provide Other Benefits That We Will See Below:

The psychoactive effects of caffeine favor memory care and improve concentration and other cognitive functions, besides related to the above, studies show that it helps fight Parkinson's.

Coffee contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor as well as antibacterial properties.

Studies link drinking coffee with a lower probability of suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer and even multiple sclerosis.

You should remember that every person can tolerate caffeine to a greater or lesser degree, but when it be at exceeded level, it can lead to negative effects like insomnia, nervousness or gastrointestinal complications.

Coffee Properties

Like any other infusion, a cup of coffee is mostly made up of water, and the components that make up the coffee and that we use to infuse hardly provide any calories. In short, actually black coffee virtually has no calories. The USDA report that 2 calories/8 oz mug of black coffee. The extra calories that coffee can come from if you add: sugar, milk, condensed milk.

In coffee we find a significant amount of potassium, and to a lesser extent, we also find calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium. Also, vitamins like B2 and B5.

Finally, highlight the presence of antioxidants like polyphenols, which help to fight the free radicals found in our body.

Coffee On Diabetes: Can I Drink Coffee If I Have Diabetes?

Although it is considered a type of food that does not pose a problem for people with diabetes, we find different opinions regarding its suitability and effect on blood glucose.

Opinions range from that coffee can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, to that caffeine can have a negative effect on glycemic control, to the opposite, that caffeine can help control it.

Caffeine, and thus coffee, was previously thought to affect insulin sensitivity. This has been rebutted in a recent study in which it was shown that coffee consumption didn't lead to changes in insulin sensitivity.

Of course, adding sugar to coffee will affect our glucose, in the same way that if we add other elements such as milk or derivatives, it will also affect it.

Knowing well that coffee does not have the same effect on all people. The best thing to do is what we always say: consult with your medical professional or diabetes specialist to get the proper diet to your needs.