(December 16, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

Drinking regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or tea may help stave off type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here is some information about type 2 diabetes:

•       It is a condition in which the body fails to produce adequate insulin and/or fails to respond appropriately to insulin

•       Insulin helps the body process sugar, so type 2 diabetes can result in excess amounts of sugar in the blood.

•       The condition is associated with several serious medical conditions, including heart and kidney disease

Researchers from the University of Sydney analyzed data from 18 studies that looked at the impact of drinking regular coffee and developing diabetes , six studies that explored the relationship between decaffeinated coffee and diabetes, and seven that looked at the relationship between tea-drinking and the risk of diabetes.

Drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk for developing diabetes. For every cup of coffee drunk per day, the risk of developing diabetes dropped by 7%. Drinking decaffeinated coffee or drinking tea reduced the risk of diabetes by a similar amount, even after taking into account other factors known to influence diabetes risk.

Today's research suggests that one or more compounds found in coffee and tea could help reduce the risk for diabetes. If these findings are confirmed, those at high risk for diabetes might do well to increase their intake of coffee and tea.