Since I was young, I have loved the taste of coffee. But diabetes has complicated what used to be the idea of a simple cup of Joe, as well as other beverages containing caffeine. While some people with diabetes don't notice any effects from caffeine, many others and I experience blood sugar spikes immediately after consuming caffeine. Caffeine is a central stimulant, which means that it stimulates the central nervous system. As such, caffeine increases the release of catecholamines, which are adrenaline hormones known as "fight-or-flight" stimulants. Ironically, caffeine can be a blood sugar nightmare for the exact reason many of us drink caffeinated beverages in the first place: stimulants. As a result, drinking caffeine is similar to eating food containing fast-acting carbohydrates in the way that blood sugar rises quickly. In addition, many people, myself included, enjoy coffee in the morning when we already have low insulin sensitivity, meaning that I experience an even larger spike. I can remember calling my diabetes educator saying, "I spiked from 100 to 300 in 45 minutes, but all I've had is a cup of black coffee!"
What to do? Well, timing and the amount of caffeine are everything. Eight ounces of drip coffee contain 145 milligrams of caffeine while the same amount of decaf coffee contains only 6 mg. If decaf coffee is available, you can enjoy the flavor and comfort of coffee without the effects of caffeine. Twelve ounces of diet soda contains about 45 mg of caffeine, so depending on how sensitive your body is to caffeine and to insulin, these drinks may have an effect on blood sugar. First of all, it is not a good idea to drink diet soda on a regular basis. For hydration, it is a better idea to drink water or herbal tea. However, when you can't settle for anything other than soda but find that it spikes your blood sugar, bolus. It is important not to bolus "blindly;" in other words, be conservative when experimenting with dosages. Since everyone responds differently to caffeine, you can devise your own bolus ratio system for caffeine, e.g. "x" units for a cup of coffee in the morning, "y" units for a can of soda in the afternoon, etc.
While it can be frustrating to deal with caffeine's effects, patience, recording your experiences with caffeine, and trying new things, a morning coffee can set you off on the right foot for a healthy day.
I'm curious: what are your experiences with caffeine and managing your blood sugar?
