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Coffee and Dangers of High Blood Sugar

In addition to increasing heart rate, dilating blood vessels and supplying the brain with more oxygen, caffeine has been observed to raise blood sugar levels. The natural stimulant is an additive in pain relievers and other over-the-counter drugs, but it is found in high concentrations in coffee. Because of its ubiquity and impact on blood sugar, diabetic individuals should be especially conscientious of their coffee intake.

  1. Research

    • In a study that was published in Diabetes Care, Psychologist Dr. James Lane at the Duke University Medical Center observed the effects of caffeine on blood sugar. All 10 participants in his study were afflicted with Type 2 Diabetes and drank at least two cups of coffee every day. Throughout the course of the investigation, the participants were administered different capsules on alternating days. One was a placebo and the other was a dose of caffeine that was equivalent to roughly four cups of coffee. While all participants consumed the same nutritional beverage for breakfast, they were free to eat as they pleased for lunch and dinner. None of the participants used extra insulin to control their diabetes, instead they managed their disease through diet, exercise and oral medications. While participating in the study, their glucose levels were continuously monitored by a tiny meter embedded beneath their abdominal skin. Lane's research found that caffeine consumption boosted the participants’ daily sugar levels by an average of 8 percent. Moreover, the researchers noted that caffeine contributed to a spike in post-meal glucose levels. On average, glucose levels increased by nine percent after breakfast, 15 percent after lunch and 26 percent after dinner.

    Theories

    • Lane’s study didn’t yield a conclusion as to how caffeine increases blood sugar levels, but there are a few theories. Caffeine can trigger the release of adrenaline, a hormone which is known to raise sugar levels. It is also possible that caffeine interferes with how the body metabolizes glucose. Nonetheless, Lane’s study contributes to a growing body of research that correlates caffeine intake with elevated blood sugar levels.

    Risks

    • When the body's levels of blood sugar are too high, the condition is known as hyperglycemia. People with diabetes are more susceptible to developing hyperglycemia, and it can lead nerve and organ damage when left untreated. Prolonged hyperglycemia can also result in skin infection, compromised vision, neuropathy, erectile dysfunction and chronic gastrointestinal problems like constipation and diarrhea. In extreme situations, hyperglycemia can bring about life threatening complications like ketoacidosis and diabetic coma. Because of the health risks surrounding hyperglycemia, diabetics should avoid blood sugar triggers like coffee.

    Bottom Line

    • Lane’s research suggests that eliminating or reducing caffeine intake is a simple, efficient way to lower blood sugar and prevent hyperglycemia. While there currently aren’t any guidelines that advise diabetics to avoid coffee, it may become a recommendation as more studies bear out Lane’s findings. And considering that coffee is commonly served with sugar, its impact on glucose levels can be amplified. When caffeinated beverages are mixed with refined carbohydrates, the combination can create a physiological imbalance that leads to hypoglycemia. Such a combination can be lethal for diabetic individuals, and lead otherwise healthy people to conditions like diabetes and obesity.

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