coffee/tea caffeine bitter melon

Question
I am 48.
I am not diabetic,but I do have some 'pre diabetes' symptoms.
I recently switched to half-caf and de-caf coffee as I was getting bad heartburn from the caffeine.
Its been three weeks now and the heartburn is gone.Another bonus is I have lost a pound and a half!
Is there a connection between caffeine and insulin/diabetes obesity?
I have been overweight and unable to lose weight since childhood. My mother,who was a bit 'funny' used to feed me lots of sweet coffee and tea.
As I mentioned I am healthy,eat a good diet and get lots of exercise,but until recently was a heavy coffee/tea drinker.


Answer
Hello Bud,

Yes, there is a connection between coffee/caffeine and insulin levels. Excessive caffeine consumption can raise insulin levels, and as it sounds you already know, when insulin is raised for prolonged periods over time it can increase your risk of developing diabetes. Each person is different so the amount of caffeine, or how long you have been using it, will have different outcomes regarding health issues. I do not believe caffeine is to be vilified but you should be aware of its possible effects and of how it effects you in particular.

Try drinking coffee substitutes which are easily found at any grocery store. Some coffee companies use harsh chemical solvents to remove caffeine that you may want to avoid. Coffee substitutes are usually made of roasted chicory and are actually very good. Green tea is low in caffeine and also has many health benefits.

If you enjoy sweetening your tea or coffee try stevia. Stevia is an herb that is up to 300 times as sweet as sugar. You can by stevia in pre-measured packets. Stevia has been used in other countries to help treat diabetes, look it up on-line...

I would also suggest taking a closer look at your diet as coffee alone should not be the reason you may be overweight. Are you eating a majority of low-glycemic foods? Low-glycemic foods are those which have little or no effect on insulin levels. I do not want to question your knowledge regarding your healthy diet, I just want to encourage you to always analyze and be aware of what you are eating and to look for any improvements you can make! Also, was there a question regarding bitter melon?

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