A study conducted at the University of Guelph found that individuals who drink coffee after a heavy meal may experience a larger spike in blood sugar than those who skip the java after the meal.

The report, which appears in the Journal of Nutrition, noted that individuals who ate a lipid-rich dinner and then drank caffeinated coffee had 33 percent more glucose in their bloodstreams than participants who avoided the beverage.

The team attributed this effect to an interaction between fat, coffee and the hormones that control blood sugar.

"Ultimately we have found that fat and caffeinated coffee are impairing the communication between the gut and the pancreas," said researcher Marie-Soleil Beaudoin. She added that coffee "could be playing a role in why participants couldn't clear the sugar from their blood as easily."

For those who want all of the antioxidants of coffee without the blood sugar spike, vitamin supplements may be able to provide ample amounts of the nutrients.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota reviewed the medical data of more than 12,000 adults and determined that many black Americans have low blood-serum levels of potassium. This finding, they suggested in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may partially explain that group's high rate of acquired diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is caused in part by poor diet. Health authorities estimate that 8 percent of Americans have the disorder, which occurs when the pancreas can no longer produce insulin sufficient to handle blood glucose.

Potassium can be found in many healthy fruits and vegetables, including bananas, broccoli and melons, the group added.

For those who have limited access to fresh produce, nutritional supplements may be able to provide the necessary daily dose of the element.

The health news source stated that multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the moderate effect cinnamon has on blood sugar. A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinic Nutrition found that taking 6 grams (g) of cinnamon powder with rice pudding significantly lowered after-dinner blood-glucose levels.

Other studies have had similar results. Another study from 2009 determined that cinnamon helped participants with type 2 diabetes lower their levels of hemoglobin A1C, an indicator of blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon also has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and high levels of calcium, copper, iodine, iron, phosphorus, zinc and vitamins A, B and C, the news source added.

The Mayo Clinic cites this study in an article theorizing that the spice may encourage the production of insulin, which may help people with type 2 diabetes regulate the glucose in their blood.

More than 23 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Statistics presented at the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research indicates that mature adults who have diabetes are at a higher risk of many types of cancer.

Researchers analyzed medical questionnaires filled out by more than 500,000 American adults, as well as follow-up data collected 11 years later. The group found that having type 2 diabetes increased the participants' risk of cancer by nearly 10 percent.

Similarly, men and women with diabetes had a 17 and 11 percent higher risk of death, respectively, over the study's interval.

The team noted that the connection between diabetes and cancer appeared even when they controlled for other risk factors, like obesity and tobacco use.

They concluded that controlling one's blood sugar and reducing the risk of diabetes can have long-lasting health benefits.

Adults who want to consume adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, and thereby to maintain good nutrition, may consider purchasing a daily multivitamin or herbal supplement.

In particular, her advice centered on the consumption of carbohydrates, which she said many people find difficult to completely avoid.

It is a common suggestion that people who have or are at risk for type 2 diabetes should not eat carbohydrates. However, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that people with these conditions should ensure that between 45 and 65 percent of their calories come from carbs.

Dopart said that reading the dietary information printed on food packaging, eating low-carb alternatives like fresh produce and consuming more proteins and fats at breakfast may all reduce the risk of having high blood sugar.

Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can also help dieters lose weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Furthermore, eating a balanced diet and periodically checking one's blood glucose levels may also help individuals improve their cardiovascular health, Dopart told the news source.

The Mayo Clinic reports that unrefined, whole grains may be healthier than processed foods, since they have a higher fiber count and nutritional content.

Gestational diabetes typically occurs when a pregnant woman consumes high amounts of sugars, refined carbohydrates and fats. The pancreas becomes less and less able to process blood sugar, potentially leading to dangerously high blood-glucose levels.

Up to 8 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Expectant mothers who are overweight, African-American, Asian or over the age of 25 have the highest risk of developing the disorder.

To prevent the condition, the NDIC recommended that women eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as drinking plenty of water and consuming plenty of fiber.

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has suggested that pregnant women may be screened for gestational diabetes using a system combining girth measurement and triglyceride counts.

Type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease caused by high blood sugar levels, has become increasingly common in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in every three Americans will have type 2 diabetes by 2050.

However, almonds may be able to stem the tide of the disorder somewhat, according to recent findings. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that 16 weeks of eating an almond-enriched diet reduced blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or so-called bad cholesterol.

It also significantly lowered insulin sensitivity in pre-diabetic volunteers.

Almonds contain 13 grams (g) of unsaturated fat and nearly 4 g of fiber per 1 ounce (oz), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The study’s cohort comprised 65 individuals with pre-diabetes, all of whom were between the ages of 50 and 60.

Those given an almond-rich regimen consumed the same number of calories as the control group, though a fifth of their calories came from almonds.

The study’s lead author concluded that changes in dietary intake, like eating more almonds and other heart-healthy foods, “may help to improve factors that play a potential role in the disease development.”

Approximately 16 million Americans are pre-diabetic, according to the United Health Center for Health Reform and Modernization.

Now, a team of nutrition and mental health experts has found what they believe is an explanation for this form of fructose's effect on eating habits.

Using magnetic resonance imaging, researchers from Oregon Health and Science University measured the brain activity of nine healthy adults. Each adult was given an injected solution of either fructose, glucose or water.

Those given glucose reportedly showed less neural activity in their cerebral cortices, which are areas of the brain responsible for the senses of taste and smell, as well as for exercising restraint.

On the other hand, participants injected with fructose showed greater than average cortical activity. The team theorized that fructose, particularly that found in high-fructose corn syrup, may negatively affect the neurological ability of eaters to avoid processed foods.

Sweetened foods have contributed to the growing problem of obesity in the U.S., which many health authorities have labeled an "epidemic."

Currently, two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Previous reports have found that an estimated 80 percent of all deaths among people with diabetes are caused by heart disease. Among the different types of these illnesses, cardiomyopathy—which leads to heart muscle damage—is the leading heart-related cause of deaths among diabetics.

During the recent trial, groups of rats with diabetes were either given a diet that contained garlic or corn oil. The researchers then observed the two animal groups to see which oil led to better prevention of cardiomyopathy.

The team of investigators discovered that because garlic oil contained a high amount of antioxidants, it reduced the risk of cardiovascular complications in the rats that consumed it as opposed to the animals that were fed corn oil.

The authors of the report concluded that "garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy."

Individuals who wish to find other natural alternatives to treating diabetes and protecting themselves against heart disease can benefit from eating grapes, according to a study conducted at the University of Michigan Health System. 

Called glucagon, the hormone is secreted by the pancreas. In individuals without type 1 diabetes, it prevents low blood sugar. However, its action causes high blood sugar in those with the disorder.

Internal medicine specialists referred to glucagon as the complement to insulin. The former raises blood glucose levels, while the latter lowers them.

By genetically altering diabetic lab animals to produce no glucagon, the team found that insulin replacement was no longer necessary to maintain healthy blood sugar.

They concluded that further research into the suppression of glucagon could result in diabetes treatments that do not involve daily insulin shots or inhalants.

In the U.S., an estimated 1 in 400 children develops type 1 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association reports.