Diabetics urged to cut out the coffee to lower blood sugar levels

By DAVID DERBYSHIRE

Last updated at 00:45 28 January 2008


coffee

Cutting out tea and coffee could help diabetics cope with their disease, a study suggests.

Researchers have shown that a daily dose of caffeine raises blood sugar levels by 8 per cent, undermining the effects of drug treatment.

The U.S. findings back up a growing body of research suggesting that eliminating caffeine might be a good way to help manage type 2 diabetes, which usually develops in middle age.

James Lane, who led the study at Duke University, North Carolina, said: "Coffee is such a common drink in our society that we forget that it contains a very powerful drug - caffeine.

"Our study suggests that one way to lower blood sugar is to simply quit drinking coffee, or other caffeinated beverages.

"It may not be easy, but it doesn't cost a dime and there are no side effects."

His team studied the blood sugar, or glucose, levels in ten diabetics who drank at least two cups of coffee a day.

When the patients had a caffeine fix, their average daily blood sugar levels were seen to rise by 8 per cent.

Caffeine - which is found in tea, coffee and some fizzy drinks - also exaggerated the rise in glucose after meals.

Dr Lane said the results could be explained by caffeine interfering with the process that moves glucose around the body.

Alternatively caffeine might release adrenaline which can boost blood sugar levels.

Cathy Moulton, of the charity Diabetes UK, said the research was not extensive enough to be acted upon and was based on a 72-hour period only.

"We recommend that the best way to control glucose levels is through healthy eating and exercise," she added.

Around two million Britons have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

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