Could a Little Alcohol Lower Your Diabetes Risk?

Could a Little Alcohol Lower Your Diabetes Risk?

THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) New research that included data from over 70,000 people from the Danish Health Examination Survey contends that daily, moderate alcohol consumption might lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in some individuals. Researchers found that individuals who maintained a moderate, consistent drinking pattern appeared to have the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes compared to nondrinkers or those who binge drank. 

The protective benefit seemed to be limited to beer and wine only. In fact,  hard liquor did not lower the risk in men and might actual increase the risk in women. Tolstrup, Professor of epidemiology with the University of Southern Denmark’s National Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen said, “There seemed to be little beneficial effects from spirits.”

While there may be an association between alcohol consumption and diabetes risk, there is not a cause-and-effect connection. Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, Adrian Vella warns, “I wouldn’t recommend increasing alcohol consumption on the basis of this study”.