A regular cup of coffee could be more effective at controlling blood sugar than a commonly prescribed diabetes drug, scientists have claimed.
Researchers say the findings could eventually benefit people with type 2 diabetes who rely on regular injections and medication to keep their blood glucose levels stable.
To test the idea, the scientists directly compared compounds found in roasted Arabica coffee with acarbose – a widely used diabetes drug that works by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates after meals.
They found that coffee inhibited the same digestive enzyme targeted by the drug, helping blunt spikes in blood sugar following food.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin, or becomes resistant to its effects, causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream.
If poorly controlled, it can lead to serious complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss and nerve damage.
While the condition can sometimes be reversed through weight loss and lifestyle changes, many patients require long-term treatment with drugs such as insulin, GLP-1 medicines and acarbose.
In a study published in the journal Beverage Plant Research, scientists identified three compounds in coffee that inhibit alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that plays a central role in breaking down carbohydrates during digestion.
Roasted arabica coffee may do more than wake you up—it could help control blood sugar levels scientist say
Almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in 2021/22, according to the latest figures for the UK
By blocking this enzyme, the compounds slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream after eating – closely mirroring the mechanism of action of acarbose.
Using a three-step extraction process, the team isolated three previously unknown compounds, named caffaldehydes A, B and C, all of which showed significant alpha-glucosidase inhibition.
The researchers say the discovery could pave the way for ‘functional foods’ with natural glucose-lowering properties and other health benefits.
Large studies have previously linked regular coffee drinking to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, with evidence suggesting each extra cup a day may further reduce the risk.
Between three and five cups of regular coffee a day has been consistently linked with greatest benefits.
More than 400 million people worldwide are affected by type 2 diabetes, making blood sugar control a cornerstone of managing the condition.
In the UK, diabetes is the fastest-growing health crisis, with rising obesity driving a 39 per cent increase in type 2 diabetes among under-40s. Around 90 per cent of diabetes cases are type 2, which is linked to excess weight and is typically diagnosed later in life, unlike type 1 diabetes, a genetic condition usually identified in childhood.
The findings come as experts warn that some patients prescribed weight-loss injections – including drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, which are also used to help manage diabetes – may need to remain on them long term.
Almost 4.3 million people were living with diabetes in the UK in 2021–22, according to the latest figures.
A major Oxford review has suggested that while weight-loss jabs can deliver dramatic short-term benefits, including improved heart health, many of those gains may fade once treatment stops.
The injections, including now-household names such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, have been hailed as a breakthrough in obesity treatment.
But a major Oxford review suggests the benefits – including weight loss and better heart health – may be short-lived once treatment ends.
