The effect of acute caffeine intake on insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in people with diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes is growing globally, and with no current cure for the disease, management is focused on optimizing blood glucose control to limit complications. The purpose of this review was to examine the effect of caffeine intake on blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. Electronic searches were completed using Pub Med, CINAHL, and Web of Science using the search terms “coffee and insulin,” “caffeine and insulin,” “caffeine and diabetes,” “caffeine and type 1 diabetes,” “caffeine and type 2 diabetes,” and “caffeine and glycemia.” Seven trials were found to meet the search criteria. Five of the 7 studies suggest caffeine intake increases blood glucose levels, and prolongs the period of high blood glucose levels. Future research should focus on larger clinical trials to confirm the relationship and mechanism of action related to caffeine intake and glycemic control in individuals with diabetes.