UAE | Health
Caffeine shock for diabetics
Cutting out caffeine is unlikely to be a common prescription to diabetes patients in the UAE, where coffee and other caffeine drinks are popular, although a study found that caffeine increases blood sugar levels.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 01:26 February 17, 2008
Dubai: Cutting out caffeine is unlikely to be a common prescription to diabetes patients in the UAE, where coffee and other caffeine drinks are popular, although a study found that caffeine increases blood sugar levels.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Centre found giving caffeine equivalent to four cups of coffee to 10 people with Type II diabetes caused their blood glucose to rise eight per cent throughout the day and even more after meals, in a study released recently.
The findings seem to run counter to previous research, which found caffeine reduced the risk of developing Type II diabetes.
Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, medical and research director at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News cutting out caffeine would not be part of the diabetes prescription for the time being.
"The study [isn't] enough to warrant a change in diabetic patients' caffeine intake," she said. "I know very few people who are caffeine-free and even those who take decaffeinated coffee, get caffeine [from other sources]."
The study's findings seem to run in counter with previous research that found caffeine had protective effects on diabetes, by lowering coffee-drinkers' risk of developing Type II diabetes. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea and many soft drinks.
Dr Maha said it just confirmed that caffeine's effect on the human body was a "very complex" issue.
"We know if people take caffeine before exercise, they will burn more fat. The disadvantage is that some can't tolerate it. [Nevertheless] it is an interesting finding and more study is needed," she said.
Jasem Al Bannai, a Type II diabetes patient, told Gulf News diabetologists were in for a fight if they suggested their patients gave up caffeine now. "I'm not a regular coffee drinker. But if I was a coffee-lover, I would not believe it. I will make excuses."
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