Diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly manage blood-sugar levels. Chronically high levels or uncontrolled diabetes may lead to serious complications, such as nerve damage and vision loss. People with this condition must use medications, insulin or diet to bring down blood-sugar levels. At times, these levels may drop too low. In such cases, you will need to eat or drink something to bring up your blood sugar. Coffee, however, does not provide the quick response that you will need.
Hypoglycemia
Doctors define low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, as a reading of 70 mg/dL or below. If you do not increase your blood sugar quickly, you could suffer from serious complications such as seizures, loss of consciousness and insulin shock.
A home blood-glucose meter can determine your blood-sugar level, but you may also have certain symptoms when you drop too low. Early signs of hypoglycemia may include sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, irritability and insomnia. You could also experience weakness, vision changes or fainting.
Coffee Effects
In a 2008 study, researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, evaluated the effects of caffeinated coffee on blood-sugar levels. The study compared decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee and found that the caffeinated coffee, when consumed with a meal, could affect the way insulin is used, thus increasing blood-sugar levels. However, the study did not examine whether coffee adequately increases blood sugar for episodes of hypoglycemia.
Options
Instead of coffee, which may or may not have a rapid effect on your blood sugar, drink a small glass of juice or sugar water, or take a tablespoon of honey. If you have glucose tablets, eat three, or you can eat a few pieces of candy. The sugar will help to bring up your blood sugar quickly, but you need to recheck your level after about 15 minutes. If you still have a low level, eat more candy, or try a few crackers or other carbohydrates. Check your blood-sugar level again, and if you still have a low reading, contact your doctor. You may need to have glucose injections or other treatment to prevent complications.
Considerations
You should not use coffee as a treatment for hypoglycemia. Keep candy, glucose tablets or other carbohydrates with you in case your blood sugar drops in a location where you do not have access to food or drink that will raise your level. If you experience frequent episodes of low blood sugar, talk to your doctor. She may recommend adjusting your medications to prevent recurring hypoglycemia.
