Most of us reach for coffee for the caffeine, but there is now some evidence to suggest that coffee may offer more than a stimulant effect to those at risk for type 2 diabetes, especially in postmenopausal women.
In a recent study out of the UCLA Medical Center, researchers identified 359 new diabetes cases matched by age and race with 359 apparently healthy controls selected from among nearly 40,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Study.
They found that women who drank four cups of caffeinated coffee each day had significantly higher blood levels of SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) than non-coffee drinkers and were also 56 percent less likely to develop diabetes than the non-drinkers.
SHBG helps to regulate sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen, and has long been shown to have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes. What is new is that now it seems a dietary factor (coffee) can have an effect on SHBG levels, at least in postmenopausal women.
In addition, there are nutrients in coffee that may also offer a protective effect against diabetes:
- Magnesium - may help the body use carbohydrates more efficiently and decrease the risk for type 2 diabetes
- Chlorogenic acid - (an antioxidant) may decrease blood glucose levels
- Quinides - may improve insulin sensitivity and improve blood glucose control
On the flip side:
There was a small, short-duration study out of Duke University that showed an eight percent increase in blood sugar levels on days where study participants took caffeine capsules, but the study was small-scale, and the methods used caffeine capsules rather than coffee.
If you suffer from heart disease, anxiety, high blood pressure, are overweight, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you should definitely consult with your doctor about the safety of coffee intake for you. And while it seems that coffee may have a protective effect in some people against type 2 diabetes, drinking coffee is certainly not an option for everyone, nor does it replace the need for a healthy diet and exercise plan for diabetes prevention and management.
Be mindful about what you put in your coffee as well. Loading up with cream and sugar is sure to negate any health benefits of coffee. Try to stick with black coffee, or fat-free milk and sugar alternatives.
