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Caffeine and Diabetes: Helpful or Harmful?
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious public health problem. A growing body of evidence suggests that consumption of caffeine leads to disruptions of glucose metabolism that could be of concern for both the development of T2DM and its clinical management.
In a review article in the inaugural issue of Journal of Caffeine Research, James Lane, PhD, Duke University, describes 17 studies that have consistently demonstrated caffeine's potential for increasing insulin resistance (impaired glucose tolerance) in adults that do not have diabetes, an effect that could make susceptible individuals more likely to develop the disease.
In adults coffee drinkers with type 2 diabetes, studies have found that caffeine exaggerates the rise in glucose after carbohydrate ingestion. This effect could contribute to higher glucose levels in people with diabetes and could compromise treatment aimed at controlling their blood glucose.
The results of these well-controlled experimental studies contradict epidemiological studies that find that heavy coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of T2DM.
Although it is premature to recommend caffeine abstinence for patients with T2DM and for those at risk, the evidence is sufficient to warrant further study of caffeine’s effects, including clinical trials of the potential benefits of eliminating caffeine from the diet.
There are more than 200 million diabetics worldwide and with 80% of the world's population consuming caffeine daily, the links that we now know between diabetes and caffeine are of immense value.
Journal Reference:
James D. Lane. Caffeine, Glucose Metabolism, and Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of Caffeine Research, March 2011, 1(1): 23-28. CLICK HERE to read the full article.
The Journal of Caffeine Research
Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in history. Its near-universal use, in beverages (coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks), food (e.g., chocolate), and medicines, means that the consumption of caffeine far exceeds usage of any other psychoactive substance, including nicotine, alcohol, and all illicit drugs. The Journal of Caffeine Research is the central forum for disseminating advances in knowledge in this ever-expanding field of study.
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