Better blood sugar control with moderate intake of alcoholic beverages

The current study indicates that the blood sugar control was improved among those Japanese diabetic women who consumed alcoholic beverages moderately and this was independent of body weight.

Several meta-analysis of prospective studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages can reduce the risk for type-2-diabetes. However, it remains to be clarified whether the relationship between alcohol and diabetes is influenced by adiposity. Japanese researchers examined data from 18 352 Japanese women, 35 to 60 years of age, who had undergone health check-up examinations, to determine whether their glycemic status i.e. glycated hemoglobin (A1C), is influenced by alcohol drinking. The results showed thatA1C levels were significantly lower in occasional, regular light and regular heavy drinkers than with nondrinkers. This inverse association was not altered by adiposity status neither by age or lifestyle factors such as smoking and regular exercise. The authors concluded that further studies are needed to clarify whether the relationship between alcohol and glycemic status is causal.

Shimomura T, Wakabayashi I. Association between Alcohol Consumption and Glycemic Status in Middle-Aged Women. Can J Diabetes. 2015 Aug 12. pii: S1499-2671(15)00489-X.

For more information about this article, read the scientific abstract here.