Coffee May Cut Diabetes Risk

Study: Lots Of It, Especially Decaf, Seems To Have That Effect

(CBS)  A new study finds that drinking a lot of coffee, especially decaf, may help prevent diabetes.

On The Early Show Tuesday, medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay elaborated on the possible good news for those who enjoy their cups of joe.

She reported that a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that coffee can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, the type that normally develops over time as a result of obesity as the body loses its ability to use insulin to regulate blood sugar.

The study looked at more than 28,000 post-menopausal women over an eleven-year period. They answered questions about their coffee consumption.

The study found that coffee seems to offer protection against type 2 diabetes, with decaf coffee providing the most protection. Compared to women who drank no coffee, Senay explained, women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. Women who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee daily had a 33 percent reduced risk.

Six cups a day is a lot of coffee, Senay observed. The American Heart Association recommends no more than one to two cups of caffeinated coffee per day. There are no specific recommendations for decaf coffee.

More research is needed to see whether coffee might play a role in diabetes prevention, Senay says. Regular exercise, good diet and a regular checkup with the doctor are the best ways to prevent diabetes, she adds.

It's not known why coffee might have this effect, Senay points out. Previous research has found that the more coffee an individual generally drinks, the lower his or her risk for diabetes. Previous studies have also shown conflicting results about whether caffeine increases or lessen diabetes risk. Caffeine did not appear to be related to diabetes risk in this study. The researchers say it might be that minerals and other chemicals found in coffee beans may have beneficial effects on metabolism and blood sugar levels and may provide protection to the pancreas.

But, cautions Senay, caffeine is a stimulant, and some people simply don't like its stimulating effects. Research into whether caffeine is bad for the heart has produced conflicting results, but caffeinated coffee is generally considered safe for most people.

It's thought that a small number of people with a certain liver enzyme gene who drink coffee may increase their risk of heart disease, Senay continues. And a link has been found between heart disease and drinking a lot of French-press coffee made using a mesh filter instead of a paper drip filter or percolated coffee. Also, previous research has shown three to six cups of decaf a day can increase "LDL" or "bad" cholesterol.

If you're concerned about your coffee consumption, Senay suggests, ask your doctor whether it's right for you.