Glycemic Coffee

I think coffee triggers the release of adrenaline, which is a counterregulatory hormone and increases insulin resistance. This is what causes "coffee jitters" in some people.

 

As a result of the adrenaline, the liver pumps some glucose into the blood, and this is one reason we get a "lift" from coffee.

 

Note that the research said that coffee elevates BGs when taken "before a high-carb meal." Another obvious solution is to stop eating high-carb meals. 

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I've been seeking a substitute for coffee since the 1970s, when I was drinking about 16 cups a day, which didn't seem to keep me from getting diabetes.

 

I haven't found anything that works for me. Tea is insipid, and who knows how safe a lot of the herbal teas are. I had two friends who were into herbal teas, and they both died of cancer. Doesn't prove anything, but there's no control over the ingredients in herbal teas, many of which contain ingredients designed for short-term use in illness, not for everyday drinking.

 

Coffee and regular tea, on the other hand, have been used for centuries.

 

One drink that I sometimes tolerate is ginger: Add a slice of fresh ginger to boiling water and steep. Good with a little added lime juice too.

 

But coffee also has oils that give a smoothness to the drink. I tried adding a bit of hazelnut oil to the ginger tea, and this was nice.

 

But I always find myself going back to the coffee. It's good both hot and cold and I like its "bite" 

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I've read a few posts recently where PWD have said that their blood sugar goes up when they drink black coffee with nothing in it in the morning. I have noticed the same thing for sometime now and I recently switched to decaf just to see if it would have any effect on my blood pressure. My blood pressure didn't changed but my blood sugar still goes up. Maybe it also has something to do with the "dawn phenomenon," since in most cases coffee is consumed in the morning.

 

My solution has been to take a 2 unit combo bolus 70:30 over a 2 hr period in the morning while I drink my coffee, read the newspaper, check my email, and watch the early AM business news. It works for me.

 

Florian (Type 1, dx 1967)

Animas 2020 + Apidra

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Did I understand this article right?  It's the caffeine in the coffee that causes the problem?  In that case, does drinking de-caf coffee eliminate the problem?
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I have been a Type 1 for 26 years, I wear a pump,and my A1C is 6.4. A few days ago I found out I have celiac. Given the fact that I have other complications from my diabetes, I will learn to live with celiac too. However, no way will I give up my coffee.

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Spooky timing.  Over the last 2 weeks I tested the effect of coffee on my blood sugars and in my case, I've seen a 10ish point across the board reduction in my readings.  Ordinarily I would consume decaf coffee after each meal.

 

I've been a low-carb dieter for many years and have been a bit frustrated that over the last year or so my morning numbers have been just over 100 (FYI:  I follow Dr. Bernstein's solution, which lowered my A1Cs from an all time high of 10 to the 4-5 range).  I've been blaming dawn phenomenon (cinnamon didn't help in my case).

 

For some reason this Holiday season, I wondered if coffee could be causing my slighted higher results.  I normally test more aggressively over the holidays, so I decided to eliminate coffee and see if it made a difference.  My recollection is that I started my coffee habit a year or so ago.  Prior to that I didn't drink coffee at all.  

 

After eliminating coffee, my fasting BG's are in the 90s and I'm under a 100 within 3 hours after eating with a peak typically under 130.  I've kept myself coffee-free for 2 weeks now so in my personal case I'm pretty convinced that coffee raises my BGs.  Even though I hate the idea, coffee is now off of the menu for me.

 

Any non-diabetics out there want to buy a nice espresso machine!  ;)

 

All the best, Barry C.

Type II, 1,500/day Metformin,

20-40 carbs/day

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I wouldn't be so quick to condemn coffee. The study has people drink coffee alone. I take coffee after I eat my first meal and my blood sugar is slightly lower than when I wake up, usually in the 70's, 80's of 90's. I think it is better to drink coffee once you are up and about, rather than the first thing. It may be different for each person, so you need to test yourself to see if your blood sugar actually goes up.
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the remark that my Winglucograf software has shown me ever since I used it. Something like 'your average readings are lower during weekends'. Always wondered whether it was shopping for groceries (saturdays only), sleeping late (sat/sun) or just not working that helped me to better numbers on WE's. A typical weekend morning will have me take 2 cups on startup, and 2 after diner. A typical weekday (workday) will see me down a multitude... Will be doing some testing.
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I mean, as a diabetic, I've been told I have to fear everything I eat, everything I touch, everything within a 500ft. radius that may or may not affect my BG levels. Why should I worry about every little thing all the time?

 

While I agree that gorging on pizza & chili-cheese fries every day is certainly bad, am I going to run screaming into the night every time I down a couple of iced Cafe Americanos at my local coffee shop? Heck no! Life's too short to worry about every piddly 10 point spike in a BG reading.

 

We can spend all of our time afraid of food and drink, denying ourselves even a small moment of joy, or we sneak the occasional Hershey's Kiss, or enjoy our Cuppa Joe without fretting about it. 

 

Besides, one study is far from conclusive evidence anyway. I say it's hardly worth the bother. 

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