You’ve probably been told to limit your coffee intake if you have diabetes, and if you’re a coffee lover like me, this advice must have been a bit frustrating. After all, some people just can’t face the day without that first cuppa, and going without one would be annoying!

But there’s good news, coffee lovers! It seems that coffee is not that bad for diabetes, after all.

Reduce Risks for Type 2 Diabetes

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that drinking more than a cup of coffee daily actually reduces your risks of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 11%. On the other hand, decreasing your coffee intake can increase your risks for developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 17%.

Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Coffee has anti-diabetic effects. In a 2011 study done on mice, it has been shown that drinking coffee can improve insulin sensitivity as well as improve glucose tolerance. Coffee contains vital minerals and antioxidants, and it also contains phytochemicals that help control blood sugar levels after eating food.

Word of Caution

Coffee is good for diabetics, as these studies suggest, but care should still be taken when you’re drinking your cuppa.

For one, your cup of coffee should only contain a very small amount of sugar and/or milk, so if you’re going to increase your coffee consumption, take it black with only small amounts of sugar and/or cream.

Two, drink coffee in moderation, of course. Too much of anything is bad for your health. According to WHO, the ideal number is about three to five cups of coffee per day, so that’s about 400 mg/d of caffeine.

So, who says you can’t have your daily cuppa (or cuppas, for that matter!) if you’re diabetic?