Media Relations: Mercy News Archive

Mercy News | Mercy Facts At A Glance | Medical Experts Profiles
Story Ideas / News Archive | Mercy on the Web | Contact Media Relations

Dr. Janet O'Mahony, Mercy Internal Medicine (left) and Kelly O'Connor, RD, LD, CDE, Diabetes Center at Mercy.

Dr. Janet O'Mahony, Internal Medicine, and Kelly O'Connor, RD, LD, CDE, Diabetes Center At Mercy, Discuss Study Re: Coffee/Tea And Reduced Risk Of Diabetes On WBAL-TV11's The Woman's Doctor

A new study shows that drinking coffee or tea — even decaf — can lower your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Mercy Medical Center internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony said those who drink a few cups of coffee a day are doing their health a favor. "The study looked at people who chose to drink coffee and compared them to non-coffee drinkers. They had a lower incidence of diabetes, and that was true for decaf and tea, also," Dr. O'Mahony said. According to Kelly O'Connor, a registered/licensed dietitian and certified diabetes eduacator at Mercy, the ingredients of the products create a healthy effect. "Coffee contains a fair amount of magnesium and chlorogenic acid, which can have an antioxidant effect," she said. Dr. O'Mahony said that's true, but there could also be other factors. "People who chose to drink coffee may be different. Maybe they chose not to drink lots of sodas or other sugary or high-calorie drinks, or there could be some other risk factor for diabetes," she added. Whatever the case, it's good news for coffee lovers.