Is Drinking Coffee Good or Bad If I Have Diabetes?

Americans are drinking more coffee than ever. More than 60% of U.S. adults drink it regularly. 

As popular as coffee is, there’s still debate over whether or not its benefits outweigh its risks. One common question is whether coffee is good or bad for someone who has diabetes.

What are the components of coffee that affect health?

There are a number of components in coffee that can affect your health. Two of the most common are:

1. Antioxidants: Research has found that coffee has several types of antioxidants, which are the main sources of its health benefits. Antioxidants can have positive effects on your health by lowering inflammation in the body.

2. Caffeine: The most well-known component in coffee is caffeine. It’s a natural stimulant and is often what drives people to start drinking coffee. But, in some people, caffeine can affect insulin sensitivity, which is how well your body responds to insulin.

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How does coffee affect blood sugar?

Unfortunately, research on whether coffee is good or bad for people with diabetes has offered mixed results. Some studies have suggested that drinking coffee may raise your blood sugar levels by making you more insulin resistant. Other studies, however, have suggested that long-term, daily coffee consumption may have the opposite effect. 

In one study, adults who drank more than six cups of coffee a day were found to have lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who drank only four to six cups a day. Even those who drank just one to four cups a day showed a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than non-drinkers. The exact cause of these results is still unknown. But the thought is that the caffeine in coffee may have improved insulin sensitivity. That would mean that the caffeine made cells respond to insulin better, absorbing sugar from the blood and lowering blood sugar levels overall. 

That said, the study did not confirm that coffee lowers blood sugar — just that the regular coffee drinkers happened to have a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes in the long term. The studies also did not clarify how much sugar, if any, the coffee contained.

I have diabetes, but I don’t drink coffee. Should I start? 

It’s probably not a good idea to start drinking coffee for the first time if you have diabetes. Remember, other factors can affect your blood sugar levels and risk of getting diabetes, including your daily diet and exercise habits, other medical conditions, and family history. 

To prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes, you’re better off focusing on overall healthy lifestyle choices than increasing your coffee intake. 

Is coffee safe if I have diabetes?

In short, yes, it’s safe to drink coffee if you have diabetes. Although the research on coffee's benefits is mixed, as long as you keep an eye on your blood sugar and stick to coffee with less sugar, drinking coffee shouldn’t be dangerous. But make sure you limit your caffeine consumption to a reasonable amount. 

Below are some things to keep in mind if you have diabetes and are a coffee drinker.

How much caffeine is too much caffeine?

For an average, healthy adult, 400 mg of caffeine, or roughly four to five cups of coffee, is the maximum recommended amount per day. But, if you already have diabetes, it may be beneficial to consume less. For some people who have diabetes, having more than 200 mg of caffeine a day may negatively impact blood sugar levels.

Is adding sugar to coffee OK if you have diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you’ll need to work with your care team to figure out how much sugar you can have every day — including in your coffee. The recommended daily sugar intake for someone with diabetes is different from person to person.

Consuming small amounts of sugar may be OK. But, if you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests avoiding high-sugar drinks. That means, if you do drink coffee, it’s best to go easy on the sugar — or skip it altogether. And if you like to go out for coffee, keep in mind that many of those beverages come with a lot of sugar already added. 

What is the best coffee drink for someone with diabetes?

While coffee may have some health benefits, creamy, sugary coffee drinks do more harm than good. If you have diabetes, a good rule of thumb is to start with black (unsweetened) coffee. Then, if needed, you can add a small amount of:

• Sweetener: For most people with diabetes, it’s best to stick with a small amount of regular sugar or a natural alternative with a low glycemic index. It’s a good idea to limit the amount of artificial sweetener that you use. 

• Milk: A good choice is low-fat or skim milk, or low-carb plant-based milk.

And if you’re at a coffee shop, here are some tips:

• Order an unsweetened drink and add sugar yourself, so you can control the amount.

• Ask for “skinny” options. 

• Avoid sugary syrups.

Remember: With diabetes, it’s not only what you eat that matters; what you drink is important, too. Specialty coffee drinks can be full of hidden sweeteners, syrups, and dairy products. And the carbohydrates can add up quickly. 

What are the best Starbucks coffee drinks for people with diabetes? 

Starbucks’ online menu provides nutrition information for all of the coffeehouse company’s drinks. By knowing drinks’ carbohydrate load, you can place an order to fit your needs. 

Take a look at how these tall-size drinks compare:

• Drip coffee: 5 calories, 0 grams of sugar, o grams of fat

• Cafe Americano: 10 calories, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fat

• Cappuccino: 100 calories, 9 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fat

• Cinnamon Dolce Latte: 170 calories, 31 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat

• Iced White Chocolate Mocha: 310 calories, 36 grams of sugar, 15 grams of fat

As you can see, choosing simpler drinks will help you avoid carbohydrates. And small changes to your coffee routine can make a big impact on your health.

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Written by:

Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA

Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA, is an Arizona-based registered nurse with 22 years of hospital-wide clinical nursing experience and 11 years of medical writing and editing experience. She was a former healthcare content creator for a digital health tool at HealthLoop and director of clinical content operations at GetWellNetwork.

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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