BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption is a common behavior. Little is known about the relationship between alcohol consumption and glycemic
control among people with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and glycemic control.
DESIGN
Survey follow-up study, 1994–1997, among Kaiser Permanente Northern California members.
PATIENTS
38,564 adult diabetes patients.
MEASUREMENTS
Self-reported alcohol consumption, and hemoglobin A1C (A1C), assessed within 1 year of survey date. Linear regression of A1C
by alcohol consumption was performed, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, and diabetes disease severity.
Least squares means estimates were derived.
RESULTS
In multivariate-adjusted models, A1C values were 8.88 (lifetime abstainers), 8.79 (former drinkers), 8.90 (<0.1 drink/day),
8.71 (0.1–0.9 drink/day), 8.51 (1–1.9 drinks/day), 8.39 (2–2.9 drinks/day), and 8.47 (≥3 drinks/day). Alcohol consumption
was linearly (p < 0.001) and inversely (p = 0.001) associated with A1C among diabetes patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with glycemic control among diabetes patients. This supports current clinical
guidelines for moderate levels of alcohol consumption among diabetes patients. As glycemic control affects incidence of complications
of diabetes, the lower A1C levels associated with moderate alcohol consumption may translate into lower risk for complications.
Key words diabetes - alcohol consumption - hemoglobin A1C