Diabetes

[mikey]

if your diabetic, does drinking decaf coffee cause weight gain?

[Earl]

No expert but, do you add sugar or sweetener? I'm type II and drink my 2 cups without sweetener in the a.m. and thats it for the day and I'm maintaining 180 (ish) down from 220 (ish) for 20+ years of my life.

[mikey]

Well, my doctor told me I was borderline and that was some years back but I have lost about 25 pounds in the last 5 weeks. My mom is diabetic and she has gained so much weight, but she doesn't eat high in fat foods and she checks her blood every morning she's fluctuating between 120 max 135. She eats 3 meals a day but drinks lots of coffee with creamer and I am trying to figure out why she is so heavy and doesn't abuse fatty foods. She can't hardly get up except to use the bathroom hardly and ankles/feet swell sometimes. Just trying to do a little research cuz she won't let me talk to her doctor.

[Dr.Brian]

With regard to her weight problem, if she is sedentary, as you suggest, she's not burning off her caloric intake due to her very limited activity. Excess carbs become fat stores. High insulin states also decrease fat breakdown making the problem worse. Weight control in diabetics is a complex problem.

[Tools]

There are some articles out there by self proclaimed nutritionists that decry coffee and say weight gain may happen in "susceptible people"....whatever that means... I don't really see decaffeinated coffee as much more than flavored hot water with zero calories, so do not see how it could contribute to weight gain..

But, generally, coffee is associated with weight loss...

I'll go with this article from the Mayo Clinic nutritionist.. She hits on decaffeinated coffee at the end of the first paragraph..

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/HQ00369

[BarkMaster]

It's not just fat in foods... I am not familiar with a diabetic's needs, but I'd have her keep exact tabs on what she ate. Then calculate how many calories she consumes in a day.

- A sedintary person burns roughly 1,700 calories a day
- 3,500 calories equals roughly 1lb
- 6 - 8lb = approx 1" on the waistline

To lose weight, she'll need to burn more calories than she ingests. Ideally, that would be through activity... but if not, she will need to reduce (but not less than 750 calories a day or the metabolism slows down). Breakfast should be the most, then lunch and a light dinner.

Here are the "rules" I follow:

• No unnecessary sauces, spreads, toppings, butter, dips, etc Most food tastes great without them. Stuff like mayo will ruin the best of diets.
• No unnecessary add-ons... don't add cheese and/or bacon to a burger, for instance. It tastes just fine without the added calories and fat, which it also has plenty of by itself.
• Eat much less red meat and more lean protein such as fish, chicken, etc (but not smothered in sauces or battered). Less meat from four-legged animals and more from two-legged or finned animals as Dr. Oz says.
• Eat less (but not no) carbs. I tend to believe the standard medical advice that a balanced diet is a healthy diet.
• Fat-free AND low-cal salad dressing only. Fat free Italian has 15 cal per tbsp - Fat free Ranch = 60, full-blown Ranch has 120 calories; mostly from fat
• No appetizers. You don't need to eat before you eat.
• No desert. You don't need to eat after you eat.
• Avoid sweets and specifically sugar. Just say NO.
• Identify and understand your snacking and binge "triggers" so you can control the behavior.
• Get rid of all snack foods such as chips, dips, etc and replace with carrots, nuts and fruit.
• Portion control.
• Eat slower and wait 15 minutes before eating more. Or simply don't go for "seconds" at all.
• No buffets. Period.
• Cut back on adding salt and salt-based seasoning in general to lower blood pressure. Most food has more than enough salt already in it.
• Alcoholic drinks can be laden with calories (even Lite beers have 90 calories each)... margaritas have 300-600 per margarita!
• You can over-eat using diet products, but it's dangerous to think that it's OK since it is a "diet" product. Too much of a good thing....

[TARDIS]

I'm type 2 and I drink 2 cups every morning of REAL coffee. I have done so since I started work with the USGovt in 1988, so I am addicted to it. I don't add milk or anything else.

De-caff? Naah

I am not obese. 6'2" and 99kg. Lost weight a couple of years ago with radiation and chemo, but regained it with my beautiful wife's cooking.

My advice?
If you have Type 2 Diabetes don't worry too much about coffee so long as you don't drink too much of it.

Be careful with food containing carbohydrates and sugar. Avoid excesses of sodas such as Coke, Diet Coke and any other containing Aspartine. Try to drink 1 liter of water per day.

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by TARDIS

Avoid excesses of sodas such as Coke, Diet Coke and any other containing Aspartine. Try to drink 1 liter of water per day.

Why avoid diet coke / aspartame? (serious question)

[mikey]

Update: My mom is taking diabetes meds and the side-effects of the meds are longer sleeping and weight gain, but the info you guys provided helped me alot! Now I understand whats going on with her and diabetes.