People who drink coffee or tea have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a review of past studies.

Researchers at the University of Sydney looked at 18 studies with more than 450,000 participants.

They found that every cup of coffee was associated with a 7 percent reduction in the risk of diabetes. Individuals who drank three to four cups per day had an approximately 25 percent lower risk than those who drank between zero and two cups per day.

Those who drank more than three cups of decaffeinated coffee had a one-third lower risk than those who drank none.

That much tea lowered the risk one-fifth.

The authors of the paper said that it appears that the drinks have an effect on their own, regardless of other factors.

A news release on the work said that if it holds up in further experiments, it could mean there's some substance in the drinks that could be used as new therapies to prevent diabetes.

The report appears in the Dec. 14/28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.