### Can Drinking Dark Tea Daily Help Prevent Diabetes? A recent study suggests that drinking a daily cup of dark tea may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The study examined data from 1,923 adults in China who either didn’t drink tea at all or exclusively consumed one type of tea such as green tea, black tea, or dark tea. Dark tea undergoes microbial fermentation during processing, unlike other types of tea. The findings, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting, showed that people who drank tea daily were 28% less likely to have diabetes and 15% less likely to have prediabetes compared to those who didn’t drink tea. Among the different types of tea, dark tea had the most significant impact, reducing the risk of diabetes by 47% and prediabetes by 53%. Dr. Tongzhi Wu, a co-author of the study, noted that habitual tea consumption, particularly dark tea, was associated with increased urinary glucose excretion and reduced insulin resistance. These actions are beneficial for glycemic control and may contribute to the reduced risk of prediabetes and diabetes in dark tea drinkers. Urinary glucose excretion indicates that the body is effectively maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. This was significantly better in daily tea drinkers, especially those who consumed dark tea. Insulin resistance, which indicates the body's struggle to manage blood sugar, was also lower among tea drinkers, particularly those who drank dark tea daily. While the study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove the direct influence of tea on blood sugar levels or diabetes risk, it adds to the growing body of evidence linking tea consumption to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Nutritionist Erin Palinski-Wade, who wasn’t involved in the study, mentioned that many teas are rich in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, a condition linked to type 2 diabetes. The health benefits are particularly notable when unsweetened tea replaces sugar-rich beverages like sodas and flavored coffee drinks.