An observational study from Australia showed that people who drank tea, especially black tea, were half as likely to develop prediabetes as those who did not drink tea, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was also lower.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Merxwire) – Due to diet refinement, the number of people with diabetes worldwide has exceeded 500 million. Many people will choose prototype, high-fiber, or low-GI foods to prevent diabetes by controlling their diet. But did you know that drinking a cup of black tea every day can also control it? 

According to the latest statistics from the International Diabetes Alliance (IDA), the global diabetes population is increasing, quadrupling in the past 30 years. It is estimated that the worldwide diabetes population will exceed 700 million by 2045. According to new Australian research, drinking a cup of black tea daily can help control blood sugar and may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

This study, conducted by scholars from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Southeast University in China, analyzed the tea-drinking behavior of 1,923 adults from China. Among them, 1,135 had normal blood sugar levels and did not suffer from diabetes. In addition, 436 Of the people with diabetes, 352 were pre-diabetic.

These subjects had different tea-drinking frequencies, including never drinking tea, occasionally drinking tea, drinking tea frequently, and drinking tea every day. The research team also investigated what kind of tea each person would choose to drink, such as green tea, black tea, dark tea, or others. Types of tea and tested each person’s urine glucose concentration, insulin resistance, and the increase in pancreatic islets.

Scientists have found that people accustomed to drinking tea can excrete more glucose in their urine, improve insulin resistance, and better control blood sugar. Compared with people who do not drink tea, regular tea drinkers have a 15% lower risk of developing prediabetes and a 28% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition, drinking dark tea daily can reduce the risk of developing prediabetes by 53% and the risk of diabetes by 47%.

It is generally believed that diabetes is related to genetics, lifestyle, and diet. Their kidneys repeatedly absorb glucose, causing excess glucose to be unable to be excreted from the body and causing abnormally high blood sugar levels. Although the study was based on observation, the researchers said further trials will be conducted to gain more evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between drinking tea and preventing diabetes.