Could this coffee habit lower diabetes risk? Here’s what the latest study reveals
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The link between lifestyle choices and chronic diseases is always evolving, and new research sheds light on the unexpected ways some habits might protect us from serious conditions.
A recent study explored one everyday ritual that many of us can't live without—coffee—and its potential impact on diabetes risk.
However, the findings may not be as straightforward as you’d expect.
Drinking coffee may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, but only if it's consumed without sugar.
A study involving nearly 290,000 participants found that those who drank black coffee had a 10 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes for each daily cup consumed.
The research, which followed participants for up to 34 years, recorded almost 13,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.
Milk in coffee did not appear to affect this protective benefit, with those who added it experiencing a similar reduction in risk.
However, adding sugar halved the benefit, reducing the risk by only 5 per cent per cup.
Participants who used artificial sweeteners also saw a diminished effect, with their risk lowering by just 7 per cent per cup.
Dr Matthias Henn, who led the study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said: ‘Drinking coffee may help lower diabetes risk, but adding sugar or sweeteners significantly reduces these benefits.’
He added: ‘These differences in consumption patterns provided key insights into coffee’s potential health effects.’
‘To maximise coffee’s health effects, consider skipping sugar or any artificial sweetener.’
Researchers analysed data from three major US health studies, where participants reported their coffee consumption habits every four years.
They also provided health updates every two years, including whether they had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Up to 60 per cent of people across the studies added something to their coffee daily, with as many as 42 per cent using sugar.
Artificial whiteners had no clear effect on diabetes risk, though researchers noted that too few people in the study used them to draw definitive conclusions.
Previous studies have shown that coffee drinkers tend to gain less weight as they age, potentially lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes.
Compounds in coffee, including caffeine and plant-based antioxidants, may help reduce inflammation linked to the disease.
In contrast, sugar increases the likelihood of weight gain, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Sugary coffee drinks do not provide the same satiety as solid foods, making it less likely that people will compensate by eating fewer calories elsewhere.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, only considered people who added moderate amounts of sugar, typically around one teaspoon per cup.
Researchers did not examine the effects of adding three or more teaspoons of sugar, as their focus was on those consuming a moderate level of additives.
Every daily cup of coffee—whether caffeinated or decaf—was linked to a 10 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes, even when factors like physical activity and family history were considered.
However, adding sugar significantly reduced this protective effect, suggesting that excess sugar may reach a ‘critical threshold’ that offsets coffee’s benefits.
In a previous story, we explored surprising health tips from a gut doctor on beating constipation—it's not what you might expect.
Be sure to check it out for some eye-opening advice. Read here.
Do you think it's worth skipping the sugar to reap the health rewards? We'd love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comments below!
A recent study explored one everyday ritual that many of us can't live without—coffee—and its potential impact on diabetes risk.
However, the findings may not be as straightforward as you’d expect.
Drinking coffee may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, but only if it's consumed without sugar.
A study involving nearly 290,000 participants found that those who drank black coffee had a 10 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes for each daily cup consumed.
The research, which followed participants for up to 34 years, recorded almost 13,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.
Milk in coffee did not appear to affect this protective benefit, with those who added it experiencing a similar reduction in risk.
However, adding sugar halved the benefit, reducing the risk by only 5 per cent per cup.
Participants who used artificial sweeteners also saw a diminished effect, with their risk lowering by just 7 per cent per cup.
Dr Matthias Henn, who led the study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said: ‘Drinking coffee may help lower diabetes risk, but adding sugar or sweeteners significantly reduces these benefits.’
He added: ‘These differences in consumption patterns provided key insights into coffee’s potential health effects.’
‘To maximise coffee’s health effects, consider skipping sugar or any artificial sweetener.’
Researchers analysed data from three major US health studies, where participants reported their coffee consumption habits every four years.
They also provided health updates every two years, including whether they had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Up to 60 per cent of people across the studies added something to their coffee daily, with as many as 42 per cent using sugar.
Artificial whiteners had no clear effect on diabetes risk, though researchers noted that too few people in the study used them to draw definitive conclusions.
Previous studies have shown that coffee drinkers tend to gain less weight as they age, potentially lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes.
Compounds in coffee, including caffeine and plant-based antioxidants, may help reduce inflammation linked to the disease.
In contrast, sugar increases the likelihood of weight gain, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Sugary coffee drinks do not provide the same satiety as solid foods, making it less likely that people will compensate by eating fewer calories elsewhere.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, only considered people who added moderate amounts of sugar, typically around one teaspoon per cup.
Researchers did not examine the effects of adding three or more teaspoons of sugar, as their focus was on those consuming a moderate level of additives.
Every daily cup of coffee—whether caffeinated or decaf—was linked to a 10 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes, even when factors like physical activity and family history were considered.
However, adding sugar significantly reduced this protective effect, suggesting that excess sugar may reach a ‘critical threshold’ that offsets coffee’s benefits.
In a previous story, we explored surprising health tips from a gut doctor on beating constipation—it's not what you might expect.
Be sure to check it out for some eye-opening advice. Read here.
Do you think it's worth skipping the sugar to reap the health rewards? We'd love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comments below!
