For many senior adults, dealing with serious health issues introduces a host of dietary and lifestyle changes. Many of these changes are for preventative purposes, including safeguarding against Type 2 diabetes. Besides concerns over healthier food selection, portion sizes, and adequate exercise, some seniors may also wonder about the potential risk of an activity they enjoy: drinking.
Previous studies have linked alcohol consumption to a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes but reviews of these studies were inconclusive about the scope of the association and the incidence of the disease associated with heavy drinking. To clarify the association, Dr. Lando L. J. Koppes, of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, and his team searched the literature for studies about Type 2 diabetes and alcohol consumption that were published between 1966 and July 2004.
Studies Show less Incidences of Diabetes with Moderate Alcohol
The researchers looked at 15 different studies and discovered some surprising results: moderate drinkers were less likely to have Type 2 diabetes than those who completely abstain from drinking. They also discovered that the higher risk of Type 2 diabetes among nondrinkers in comparison to moderate drinkers was equal to the higher risk observed among heavy drinkers.
"The present study supports the evidence of a considerably reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes associated with moderate but not with heavy alcohol consumption in men and women with low or high (body mass index)," the researchers pointed out. "With the expectation of (more than) 100 million new cases of Type 2 diabetes in the coming two decades, and with the prevention of Type 2 diabetes now being recognized as an urgent priority, attaining prevention is the central challenge."
And an important part of that prevention could be incorporating moderate amounts of alcohol into one's diet.
The studies, conducted in the United States, Japan, Finland, Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK, involved a total of 11,959 cases of Type 2 diabetes among 369,862 men and women who were followed for 4 to 20 years, or an average of 12 years.
Altogether, the results revealed that the lowest risk of Type 2 diabetes was found among moderate drinkers, and the highest risk occurred among nondrinkers and heavy drinkers.
A standard drink contains about 10 grams of alcohol in Europe, 12 grams in the U.S. and Canada, and 21 grams in Japan.
Moderate drinkers -- those who drank between six and 48 grams of alcohol per day -- were about 30 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than nondrinkers, the report indicates. The risk of the condition among those who drank 48 grams of alcohol a day or more was similar to that among those who did not drink alcohol.
Previous researchers have reported a similar association between moderate alcohol drinking and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The exact mechanism by which moderate alcohol drinking reduces the risk for either condition is unknown.
What does all this mean for you, the senior adult who enjoys having a "sip" or two from time to time? With drinking, as with everything else in life, balance is key. You are more at risk to develop Type 2 diabetes if you're a heavy drinker, so consider adjusting your alcohol intake accordingly. If no cultural, religious, or health concerns exist, it could be beneficial for the nondrinker to indulge on occasion for the prevention of this deadly disease.