Moderate coffee consumption linked to 25% lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Moderate coffee consumption is associated with an approximately 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The report, from ISIC, highlights how moderate coffee consumption can reduce people’s risk of type 2 diabetes. ISIC stands for the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee. ISIC is a not-for-profit organization that devotes itself to the study and disclosure of science related to coffee and health. The organization is based in Evesham, Worcestershire, UK.

The report is titled ‘Coffee and type 2 diabetes: A review of the latest research.’

Eminent diabetes experts gathered at a satellite symposium that ISIC hosted at the EASD 2018 Annual Meeting in Berlin, Germany. EASD stands for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Some of them gathered to discuss the latest research on coffee consumption and whether or how it may affect type 2 diabetes risk.

Moderate coffee consumption – findings

Below are some highlights of the findings from the latest research:

• Meta-analyses have suggested that consuming 3-to-4 cups of coffee daily can lower diabetes type 2 risk by approximately 25%.
• There is an inverse association between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes. Researchers said this association applies to both men and women.
• According to meta-analyses, both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee are associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Several potentially clinically relevant substances or compounds are present in coffee, including caffeine and caffeic acid. Hydroxycinnamic acids, notably chlorogenic acid, may also be potentially clinically relevant.

Diabetes types 1 and 2

Studies suggest that moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of diabetes type 2, not type 1. So what is the difference? The data in the explanations come from Diabetes.Co.UK.

Diabetes type 1

Diabetes type 1 occurs when the person’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. It is an autoimmune disease. In other words, the body’s immune system destroys good tissue or cells as if they were harmful bacteria or viruses.

In the vast majority of cases, patients receive a diagnosis of diabetes type 1 during childhood. There is no link between overweight/obesity and this type of diabetes.

It is impossible to control or treat diabetes type 1 without taking insulin.

Moderate coffee consumption makes no difference to our risk of developing diabetes type 1.

Diabetes type 2

This type of diabetes is different. Diabetes type 2 is not an autoimmune disease. People’s immune systems did not destroy the insulin-producing beta cells.

In this case, the body loses its ability to respond to insulin. In other words, the insulin does not work as well as it used to. We call this insulin resistance.

The body makes up for the insulin resistance by producing more insulin. However, it cannot always produce enough of it.

Eventually, the beta cells are so overworked that they start dying off, which diminishes insulin production.

In the majority of cases, diabetes type 2 patients receive their diagnosis when they are over the age of thirty. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing this type of diabetes.

People can sometimes come off diabetes medication if they are diagnosed early and can change their lifestyles. A change in lifestyle includes, for example, losing weight, doing more exercise, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Moderate coffee consumption can reduce the risk of developing this type of diabetes.

In a different study, scientists found that antioxidant levels are higher in hot brew coffee than cold brew. Scientists at Jefferson in Philadelphia said the difference might have health impacts.