Coffee and Insulin Spikes in the morning.

[Glycemic]

I can only warn you that a dietician may not have encountered RH before and on my experience, she would have to understand that having RH is very similar to having a carb intolerance. I have since birth had a lactose intolerance and as this is quite common and the majority of doctors and dietician insist on avoiding it. However, because of text book treatment regarding RH, the intolerance to carbs is ignored! The textbook says it is carb laden meals that trigger the reaction but for me and many otheres, it does not matter how many carbs are in your meal wether high GI or low GI, the result is the same, carbs are carbs and carbs will trigger the reaction and the symptoms, the hypos!
Only a very low carb diet or being in or near being in keto levels will work for me! You may be different in some respects but it always comes back to carbs and sugars!
I hope you get your monitor for testing your BG levels, it is so important for those that are diagnosed, to discover which carbs are worse than others and how much you can tolerate without the reaction. I was told to keep a food diary with as much information about my intake and before and after two hours readings, as a baseline., Portion size, exercise, important stuff, including fasting BG readings. You get to know your body and what you can do to improve your health. It can be done!

Keep asking. Knowledge is important!

Thank you Lamont. And you are right the dietitian isn't really much help as the foods that she recommends that i eat send me into a hypo. The truth is at the moment this all feels like hell. But i'm so ever thankful that i have peers who not only live the rh life but are also here to educate and teach us newly diagnosed. I'd like to thank both you and everyone here who as responded and shared their own experiences.

 

[Lamont D]

Thank you Lamont. And you are right the dietitian isn't really much help as the foods that she recommends that i eat send me into a hypo. The truth is at the moment this all feels like hell. But i'm so ever thankful that i have peers who not only live the rh life but are also here to educate and teach us newly diagnosed. I'd like to that both you and everyone here who as responded and shared their own experiences.

I came on here like you looking for answers and advice, why this condition has very little research or knowledge on how to treat it. Luckily I found a someone who had experienced RH for most of her life, she is still around, but between us, we set up with the admin and others to set up our own sub forum, as we both knew that there was others in a similar situation and very little sound advice from those who have RH itself and found a way to stop going hypo every time we had a meal, what would be termed a healthy diet, and don't believe I haven't tried everyone of them!
I was porridge for breakfast, baked potato for lunch with beans and the usual meat and potatoes with gravy for evening meal! And I ended up being nineteen stone, and going hypo three of four times a day, not that I was aware of it but nor did my doctors! That was my hypo hell! Until I was referred to a specialist who after a few tests, I was diagnosed.
I lost weight quickly after starting a low carb diet and my health improved.
I have had relapses through mental health issues, but I am convinced that if not for diagnosis and low carb, I would not be here now!
You have to find out by using a monitor to test BG levels, the only way to know which foods you need to avoid.
My highest BG levels readings for one type of food was high teens for a potato. And that was from normal levels. I have big problems with grains of every type.
I use intermittent fasting every day, which has so many benefits, a small window between mid afternoon and early evening. This is because, it ensures four hours after food I know that I won't go hypo going to bed.
For some reason, little portions of fruit help with good vitamins. And I don't get the spikes, it could be different for you!
I have only fresh salad vegetables. So there is options, I can't eat dairy but dairy may be a different source of protein for you.
I am sure you will work out your best options! The more you experience the awareness of what is actually happening to you. And get a monitor! Keep a food diary!
Best wishes
Keep asking.

 

[Guzelino]

Good morning all, Just a very concerning question. How many of you drink coffee in the morning just after waking? I have been drinking coffee for years and mostly to increase my hypotension (low blood pressure. But lately i have noticed that drinking coffee in the a.m. straight after waking is causing hypoglycaemia symptoms, mainly the headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and making me feel weak, tired and under the weather.

I had a read online and most of the information states that coffee indeed causes blood sugar spikes:-

How Does Coffee Affect Your Blood Sugar?

That cup of coffee, tea, or soda can affect blood sugar control. Here’s what people who have diabetes need to know.

www.webmd.com

• Caffeine raises levels of certain stress hormones, like epinephrine (also called adrenaline). Epinephrine can prevent your cells from processing as much sugar. It may also keep your body from making as much insulin.
• It blocks a chemical called adenosine. This molecule plays a big role in how much insulin your body makes. It also controls how your cells respond to it. Caffeine keeps adenosine which plays a big role in how much insulin your body makes.

I'm a type 1 for 14 years, and always had my 1st cup of coffee within the first 30 mins after waking up, and thus far, I have not seen any effects via my CGM (libre 1/2). My to-go coffee option is a brewed Turkish coffee (approx. 1 cup of 150-200 ml, 2 teaspoons grinded coffee). I usually drink 3-5 coffees a day, with no effect on my BG.
Many articles have surfaced lately, stating that it influences the BG levels, but I personally think this mainly depends on the person, as each individual is unique, metabolic processes are different in everyone at different times of the day.
The title here says "spikes" but your experience says "hypo" which are contradictory terms. Also, the choice of coffee plays a significant amount (whether it is clean coffee, mixed with milk/sweeteners etc.).
As one commenter said, see how it works for you, if it does more damage than good, better drop it and switch to alternative "wake-up" drinks (for example, tea).

 

[healthy1]

After reading Dr Ritamarie blog about

Navigating the Dangers of Caffeine, Chronic Stress, and Hormonal Imbalance I reduced my caffeine intake down to 3 drinks per week. Wanted to go cold turkey completely, but don't have enough willpower​

 

[theoldfunker]

Good morning all, Just a very concerning question. How many of you drink coffee in the morning just after waking? I have been drinking coffee for years and mostly to increase my hypotension (low blood pressure. But lately i have noticed that drinking coffee in the a.m. straight after waking is causing hypoglycaemia symptoms, mainly the headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and making me feel weak, tired and under the weather.

I had a read online and most of the information states that coffee indeed causes blood sugar spikes:-

How Does Coffee Affect Your Blood Sugar?

That cup of coffee, tea, or soda can affect blood sugar control. Here’s what people who have diabetes need to know.

www.webmd.com

• Caffeine raises levels of certain stress hormones, like epinephrine (also called adrenaline). Epinephrine can prevent your cells from processing as much sugar. It may also keep your body from making as much insulin.
• It blocks a chemical called adenosine. This molecule plays a big role in how much insulin your body makes. It also controls how your cells respond to it. Caffeine keeps adenosine which plays a big role in how much insulin your body makes.

Coffee black for me and type 2 for some years and never a problem. Iv'e learnt a lot about my intake and now in pre-diadetic and find my black coffee is a great help.

 

[lawrence21360]

I don't drink coffee! My tipple during the day is tea!
And it could be the lactose in the milk!
Quite a few have full fat milk or cream in their coffee a lot less carbs and more natural fats.
The question does highlight the reaction from coffee and tea, how the hormones do play a part in his our bodies cope with food.

i have liver disease and coffee is good but i mix tea and coffee .People dont realise that tea has caffeine in it

 

[Rod Sanders]

I always drink green tea and a large mug of Ceylon tea with breakfast. coffee mid morning, water lunchtime Darjeeling in the afternoon. Never coffee at night. this regime seems ok for me. any help?

 

[pauldogs_0]

I'm not a doctor but have you tried caffeine free coffee or tea? I can’t say I’ve ever thought about this before but if you haven’t tried it then all I say is it could be worth a try.

 

[Leftcoastcali]

I live in Los Angeles, California, and have been dealing with type 2 diabetes for 15 years. It has been a constant battle. I have been reading about your program over the last several months. I have enjoyed your forum.

 

[Old’un]

I am a tea drinker myself and never have it with milk in it so there is absolutely no meaningful carbohydrate present. I do notice that drinking the hot fluid raises my blood sugar levels as does taking a hot shower. There are so many things that can affect our bodies that we often don’t consider.

 

[SimonP78]

I am a tea drinker myself and never have it with milk in it so there is absolutely no meaningful carbohydrate present. I do notice that drinking the hot fluid raises my blood sugar levels as does taking a hot shower. There are so many things that can affect our bodies that we often don’t consider.

That's really interesting, does it happen at any time of the day?