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Caffeine DAFNE

Emmotha

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi All,
At DAFNE course they mentioned caffeine plays havoc with BS but didn't elaborate. I've read a bit but opinions / effects seems to differ person to person. I drink A LOT of caffeine, mainly black coffee or green tea, but I'd say 5 cups per day +. I've not noticed an adverse affect on my BS or insulin needs, but not been diabetic long.

More interested in your experiences and thoughts if I need to cut down.

Thanks
 
Ps as I write this I'm sat on a train with a bucket sized cup of coffee :p
 
If you've not noticed it having any effect then there's nothing to worry about Emmotha, some notice a small rise in their bg and others don't.
 
Emmotha said:
Hi All,
At DAFNE course they mentioned caffeine plays havoc with BS but didn't elaborate. I've read a bit but opinions / effects seems to differ person to person. I drink A LOT of caffeine, mainly black coffee or green tea, but I'd say 5 cups per day +. I've not noticed an adverse affect on my BS or insulin needs, but not been diabetic long.

More interested in your experiences and thoughts if I need to cut down.

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you drink a lot, then it could be that you wouldn't notice any difference, because of the amount of caffeine you are having (i.e., it stays in your system). Personally, I can drink instant fine, but filter coffee has to be limited, otherwise it can make me feel pretty jittery, even when my bloods are fine. I didn't experience this in my pre-diagnosis days.

Probably the only way you could really be sure of any impact would be to give it up for a few days and see what transpired; logging with and without readings at similar times, and with similar food and activity going on.

Sadly, this is all part of the bespoke condition that is diabetes..
 
Hi,

I'm quite sensitive to caffeine - only one cup of coffee a day, before lunch, or if will be awake half the night. Tea has to be drunk before mid afternoon.

Yet they don't seem to impact on by blood glucose unless I drink cheap coffee.

To my great annoyance, I have to buy decent ground coffee and phaff around making it properly. It means the coffee is nice, of course. But I used to like a casual cuppa instant.

I guess we are all different.
 
Emmotha said:
Hi All,
At DAFNE course they mentioned caffeine plays havoc with BS but didn't elaborate. I've read a bit but opinions / effects seems to differ person to person. I drink A LOT of caffeine, mainly black coffee or green tea, but I'd say 5 cups per day +. I've not noticed an adverse affect on my BS or insulin needs, but not been diabetic long.

More interested in your experiences and thoughts if I need to cut down.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I've seen that stated a lot, but I've never noticed a difference, maybe because I don't drink loads of it.
 
The only thing I would add is, not to consume drinks that include caffeine approximately 4 hours before bedtime as it seems to affect sleeping patterns.
 
Lets not forget about the decaff option, I drink decaff tea and coffee and notice no difference in the taste :)
 
noblehead said:
Lets not forget about the decaff option, I drink decaff tea and coffee and notice no difference in the taste :)
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Ah that's why I haven't noticed, I drink decaff LOL

D'oh

Was I really so stupid? It's early, I haven't had breakfast yet LOL :bag::banghead::oops:
 
AndBreathe said:
If you drink a lot, then it could be that you wouldn't notice any difference, because of the amount of caffeine you are having (i.e., it stays in your system). .
Click to expand...
That would be me too then I suppose since I drink a lot of perc'd, cafetiere & instant (decaff perc after 6pm).
It's only in the last couple of months I've ever noticed this "perk up" feelgood effect of morning coffee.
I usually regard it as just another way of drinking water. With whole milk.
One day I had two large mugs of very strong coffee at a cafe and became very buzzy and then had a panic attack just like I used to years ago (without coffee). Would this be adrenaline? Does it mean I should fight someone or run away?
I'm going on a DESMOND course soon and will report back.
PS I read somewhere that the lower the coffee strength number, the higher the caffeine content since roasting longer reduces caffeine content. Is that true?
PPS I only drink fruit tea and assume it has no caffeine. Or does it?
 
I've just been diagnosed as type 2 , but I work as a carer and one of my clients is type 1 , he drinks 4 cups of coffee a day and does not have any issues with it , doesn't change his bs as we where thinking of changing to decaffeinated , I've still got to learn about mine as just diagnosed on Friday
 
Jojorid said:
I've just been diagnosed as type 2 , but I work as a carer and one of my clients is type 1 , he drinks 4 cups of coffee a day and does not have any issues with it , doesn't change his bs as we where thinking of changing to decaffeinated , I've still got to learn about mine as just diagnosed on Friday
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Welcome to the forum :)

If you introduce yourself in the Greetings & Introductions section of the forum hopefully @daisy1 will provide you with some information.
 
Emmotha said:
Hi All,
At DAFNE course they mentioned caffeine plays havoc with BS but didn't elaborate. I've read a bit but opinions / effects seems to differ person to person. I drink A LOT of caffeine, mainly black coffee or green tea, but I'd say 5 cups per day +. I've not noticed an adverse affect on my BS or insulin needs, but not been diabetic long.

More interested in your experiences and thoughts if I need to cut down.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I drink gallons of coffee every day, frankly 5 cups a day puts you squarely in the "apprentice coffee drinkers" category, I can do that before 11am!

Coffee in itself has absolutely no effect whatsoever, good or bad, on my BG, but if I have milk in it I'm into double figures almost instantly.

I'm also one of those annoying people who can have a cup of coffee just before going to bed, and still sleep like a baby :)
 
Hehe. When I said 5 I was being modest so that I wouldn't be judged :D

I can't drink it before bed though! :(
 
I have also heard this but never noticed it affect my BG and I have more caffeine in my veins than blood!!! In my younger days I drank a lot of diet coke too and had no issue either. Mind you caffeine has never done anything for me regarding "the buzz" some people talk about. I often have a cup of coffee or tea right before bed.

My best example of how caffeine immune I am was some years ago when my hubby missed the train back to uni. I decided to drive him back (2 hours odd up the M1) even though it was early evening. Got to his uni and had a coffee and realised I was feeling tired but still needed to drive home. Hubby gave me a pack of Pro Plus and I took 2 before leaving. No effect so pulled into first service station and took 4 more. Nothing. Pulled into next service station and took rest of pack (12 in all I think) plus had a huge filter coffee. Nothing. Pulled into every service station on way home for 3 very strong coffees at each and a loo break!! Made it home just and went straight to bed. Slept like a baby!!!

When I was at uni and needed to pull an all nighter on an assignment I would drink approx. 8 pints of very strong coffee (usually using up a whole jar) and my housemates were always gobsmacked as nothing happened except it got me through the night. I'm a weirdo!!! :D
 
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