A cup (or more) of coffee or tea a day could keep Type 2 diabetes away

Did you make a stop at your favorite coffee place today for some java or a cup of tea? If not, you may want to schedule one for tomorrow. Because a new study shows that coffee and tea consumption--even decaf versions--could help lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The study, which appears today in Archives of Internal Medicine, is a meta-analysis of 457,922 people in 18 studies published between 1966 and 2009 that looked at the link between drinking coffee and diabetes risk. After analyzing the research, the study authors concluded that every extra cup of coffee consumed in one day was correlated with a 7% decrease in the excess risk of diabetes. Even better results were found for bigger coffee and tea consumers--drinking three to four cups a day was associated with about a 25% reduced diabetes risk compared with those who drank between none and two cups day.

Researchers also saw positive results with decaf coffee and tea (some tea varieties do have caffeine, but typically far less than the average cup of coffee). People who drank more than three to four cups of decaf a day had about a one-third lower risk than those who didn't drink any. And tea drinkers who consumed more than three to four cups a day had about a one-fifth lower diabetes risk than non-tea drinkers.

Because the decreased risk was seen among those who didn't consume caffeine, researchers concluded that that substance couldn't be the only key ingredient. Attention has been focused on other chemicals found in the beverages: magnesium (shown in studies to reduce diabetes risk), lignans (plant-derived chemical compounds that have antioxidant properties), and chlorogenic acids (also plant-derived antioxidants that slow down glucose release after eating).

In the study, researchers speculated that identifying the components of coffee and tea active in reducing Type 2 diabetes risk could potentially pave the way for new therapies to treat the disease. Health experts could also recommend drinking coffee and tea to at-risk patients, in addition to counseling them to exercise more and lose weight.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune

Comments

[Samantha]

Did this study control for total calorie consumption or total carbohydrate consumption? Either one could confound the conclusion.

[Janet Downing]

I am glad to know that. I love my cup of strong brewed French roast or Italian Roast with some lite cream. I have two cups a day.

Sometimes. I have iced tea too. I also love iced coffee...

[Jim M.]

I was a heavy coffee drinker for years until I strangely developed an aversion to it.
It actually makes me nauseous thinking about drinking coffee. At about this time, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I always thought there was a connection with the two but have not been able to make sense of it and my doctor just says "well that's strange". I will occasionally drink a cup of coffee for it's stimulating effect but it's like taking medicine. Wonder what's going on here?

[Against Hypocrisy]

Good point, Samantha. I am a diabetic myself, and I am very leery about things that are "whiz bang", even if they are everyday items that people consume, being purported to prevent or cure any kind of disease.

It is still a tough nut to crack, but it is slowly becoming realized that a low carbohydrate diet, along with lower calorie consumption, is most effective in preventing and controlling Type 2 diabetes. When I am out and about, I don't see people gorging themselves on steaks, bacon and eggs, etc..I see them wolfing down all the sugar laden energy drinks, junk food, and "low fat" items they can get their hands on. "Low Fat" has been the best thing to happen for the junk food manufacturers and what I term the "diabetes industrial complex". Articles like this one here, as you point out, only add to the confusion.

[zorrito]

If a person consumes gobs of processed food and does not exercise, I doubt a few cups of coffee are going to make a difference. I suggest drinking coffee/tea while consuming a balanced PLANT BASED diet. And don't forget to exercise most days.

[Patricia Benoit]

The findings of this study make a lot of sense to me. I have had reactive hypoglycemia for 30 years. I drink coffee when I notice symptoms of low-blood sugar (e.g., difficulty concentrating, visual processing issues, and speech issues.) Drinking Earl Grey tea helps me as well.