Drinking coffee appears to hamper efforts by people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, and can exaggerate the blood sugar rise which occurs after each meal, according to new research. By continuously monitoring the blood sugar levels of 10 patients with the disease, researchers found that the stimulant amplified the increase in glucose levels after mealtimes. If blood sugar levels are not controlled, people with type 2 diabetes often go on to develop complications such as heart disease. The 10 volunteers had a small glucose monitor embedded under the skin in their abdomen. To control the amount of caffeine the participants received, the team gave them pills containing caffeine equivalent to around four cups of coffee in one day or similar looking placebos.
