For some people, the day hasn’t started until they’ve had their first cup of coffee. For people with diabetes, you may not know if coffee is beneficial for your health or not. There have been a variety of studies that show that coffee can have health benefits, but for people with diabetes, this can change.

Here are five ways that coffee can affect your diabetes.

#1 Lowering risk- sometimes

Non-diabetic people who drink a cup or more of black coffee per day have a lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Researchers aren’t sure what ingredient in coffee offers protective qualities against diabetes.

If you add dairy products or sweeteners to your coffee, this will decrease the protection coffee offers against type 2 diabetes.

#2 Blood glucose spikes

For people who already have diabetes, caffeine does increase blood glucose and insulin levels in the short term. Talk to your doctor about how much coffee is safe for you to drink or if you should switch to decaf.

#3 Disease protection

Studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic found that habitual coffee drinkers are less likely to develop diseases like Parkinson’s, liver disease, gout, Alzheimer’s, and gallstones. Coffee could also reduce depression and help with attention-related issues for some people.

#4 Sugar and calorie risks

Coffee drinks like lattes, mochas, and other fancier coffee beverages can be harmful to people with diabetes because they increase your blood sugar and contain carbohydrates. These factors can reduce your body’s ability to produce insulin and decrease your resistance.

#5 Other coffee effects

Coffee can cause headaches and increase anxiety for some people. If you are experiencing discomfort when you drink coffee, consider cutting back.

If you aren’t sure if you should be drinking coffee, ask your doctor about how coffee can affect your diabetes. You may need to cut back or eliminate regular coffee from your diet, but you may be able to keep drinking coffee in a moderate amount.