title: Pilot Study of Caffeine Abstinence for Control of Chronic Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence suggests that caffeinated beverages may impair chronic glucose control in type 2 diabetes. This pilot study tested the chronic effects of caffeine abstinence on glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients who were daily coffee drinkers.  METHODS: Twelve coffee drinkers (six males) with established type 2 diabetes participated. Seven (five males) completed 3 months of total caffeine abstinence. Measures of chronic glucose control, long-term (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) and short-term (1,5-anhydroglucitol [1,5-AG]), were collected at baseline and during follow-up. Abstinence was established by diaries confirmed by saliva caffeine assays.  RESULTS: Abstinence produced significant decreases in HbA1c and increases in 1,5-AG, both indicating improvements in chronic glucose control. Fasting glucose and insulin did not change, nor were changes in body weight observed.  CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these results suggest that caffeine abstinence may be beneficial for patients with type 2 diabetes. This hypothesis should be confirmed in larger controlled clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Surwit
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Mark N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Feinglos