Coffee consumption reduces risk of Type 2 Diabetes

"October 25, 2006 — Coffee consumption reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes by 60% compared with those who do not drink coffee, according to the results of a large prospective study reported in the November issue of Diabetes Care.

"Several recently published cohort studies suggest a significant reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in coffee drinkers," write Besa Smith, MPH, from the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, and colleagues. "The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between coffee intake and incident diabetes based on an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and examine coffee habits in those with impaired glucose separately from those with normal glucose at baseline."

From 1984-1987 until 1992-1996, the investigators followed up 910 adults aged 50 years or older without diabetes at baseline. Average follow-up was 8 years after assessment of coffee intake. Logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, age, physical activity, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, and baseline fasting plasma glucose.

Compared with those who never drank coffee, past and current coffee drinkers had a lower risk for incident diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17 - 0.87; and OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19 - 0.68, respectively). The 317 participants who had impaired glucose at baseline and who were past or current coffee drinkers also had reduced risk for incident diabetes (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11 - 0.87; and OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16 - 0.83, respectively).

"This study confirms a striking protective effect of caffeinated coffee against incident diabetes and extends these findings to incident diabetes based on OGTT independent of multiple plausible confounders," the authors write. "The quantity of coffee consumed daily (cup-years) did not predict diabetes risk in either those with normal or impaired glucose at baseline." "

This was reported in Medscape.com, and there is a similar report in a 2002 Lancet. This article was being used as continuing education.

Overheard--couldn't help it

When people talk on their cell phones in public, you can often hear everything--but only one side. It's a little different when they are sitting at a table across the room at the coffee shop and you hear one side of a 3-way. This guy was so loud I finally whispered about it to Computer Guy who is always reading at the table next to me. And it was pretty graphic--apparently he was a doctor. Couldn't figure out who the two women were, because I couldn't hear them--or they never had a chance to say anything. The longer I listened, the more familiar his voice became. Finally, it dawned on me. He was my cardiologist.

At Bassett's Coffee Shop

I wonder why men walk with their hands in their pockets (usually jeans--I've never seen it with dress slacks or suits). I asked the clerk at the Bassett's Coffee Bar (between Port Clinton and Lakeside) and she said she'd noticed it too--said her teen-age son is starting to walk that way. "Maybe it's because they don't carry a purse," I suggested.

Mudd Puddle, Oregon IL

Here in Oregon, IL I've tried a new coffee shop, called Mudd Puddle. It's on North Fourth St., just about the corner of Rt. 2 and Rt. 64, next to the big Century 21 sign, across from the Sunrise Restaurant. My sister and I were on our way to McDonald's when we passed this new business and she mentioned it. So we went back. Good coffee, nice decor. I recommend it. I believe the hours are 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m. M-F, with shorter hours on the week-end. A variety of interesting drinks, some goodies, and a morning paper. Just what this visitor needed.

Parents of college students and others

I didn't know them, but they were chatting 6 inches from my table at the coffee shop. Each had a child in college so they were catching up. "How'd she like Auburn?" the woman asked. "Oh, she loved the school; didn't like the south," he replied. "A different culture. And there's a boyfriend back home." Ah, so that's it.

At another table I saw a young man, maybe 13-14 sitting with his parents. He was trying very hard to ignore them. That's important at that age--how well I remember.

Chatted a bit with our former choir director. He was up early to pick up coffee for a busload going to Pennsylvania for a water polo meet. I knew nothing about that sport--except that they don't use horses--so he explained it to me. It's all done while treading water! His granddaughter is on the team. Sounds really rough--especially the boy's version.