Alcohol in moderation may protect older women from developing type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Large Long-Term Study
An association between alcohol use and reduced diabetes risk has been observed previously, but most of the studies have focused on men. A new study examined data obtained from more than 16,000 women aged 49 to 70 years old, over the course of roughly six years.
Better Than Abstention or Excess
During the study, more than 750 women succumbed to diabetes. Women who drank moderate amounts of alcohol (5 to 30 grams per week) were much less likely to develop diabetes than both those who abstained and those who drank in excess of that amount.
Ten grams of alcohol is approximately one standard drink.
One of the more popular topics discussed in the past year has been the dubious value of drinking alcoholic beverages for your health.
I suspect the results of this study are deceptive -- as I pointed out in a similar study last year -- because the benefit probably comes from a component other than alcohol. Its alcohol content, in terms of promoting health, is likely irrelevant.
In fact, I believe the alcohol contained in beverages such as red wine is poisonous and can mess up your hormonal balance. Drinking two or more glasses (of wine or any alcoholic beverage) may offset any benefits and actually increase your risk of certain cancers.
Frankly, those with a history of diabetes and hypertension should limit their intake of alcohol, and those who suffer from liver disease or abuse alcohol should not drink it at all.
If you want to get your diabetes under control or protect your health from it, I urge you to follow this simple three-step plan: