Avoid This Kind Of Coffee If You Have Diabetes

Simply stated, if you want to stay in tip-top health, it is necessary to keep track of what you are eating and drinking on a daily basis. This is especially true if you have diabetes. Healthline states that certain foods and beverages can negatively impact a diabetic's blood sugar and insulin levels leading to inflammation, and an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and other complications. Some foods, like French fries and other greasy processed menu options may have more obvious red flags, but it's important to find out the lesser-known items on the menu and shelves that could send your blood sugar and insulin levels into dangerously high zones. Take, for example, coffee-based drinks.

According to Medical News Today, a cup of java in its purest form – as in straight black coffee with no added ingredients – hasn't proven to be a harmful beverage for people with diabetes. That being said, some experts recommend that people with diabetes drink decaffeinated coffee, just in case caffeine hinders insulin sensitivity.

Unfortunately, we can't treat all coffee drinks on the menu alike. The complex-looking confections offered by some coffee shops and brands aren't exactly a healthy choice, and not just for diabetics, but for all of us. Take a Java Chip Frappuccino for instance. The Street claims this drink ordered as a Venti — or 20-ounce cup — contains 95 grams of carbohydrates, 21 grams of total fat, and a total of 580 calories. This is a huge difference from a Venti black coffee, which contains only five calories and has zero carbohydrates and fat, according to My Fitness Pal.

What's most important to remember is that coffee and coffee-based drinks should not be in the same healthy choice category. In fact, any drink that carries the extra ingredients of sugar, cream, and whip will likely make a negative dent in your healthy diet. If you have diabetes, but aren't too keen on ordering a plain black coffee or espresso, Healthline recommends adding in just a tablespoon of half-and-half to keep your blood sugar levels from spiking into the danger zone.