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Moderate Drinking Might Improve Fasting Glucose in People with Diabetes

A benefit was reported for one glass of wine with dinner.

Moderate drinking is associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, but whether moderate drinking affects glycemic control has not been described well. In this Israeli study, 109 adults with type 2 diabetes who had not consumed more than one alcoholic drink in the past week were randomly assigned to drink one standard glass of wine (150 mL) or the same amount of nonalcoholic beer daily with dinner for 3 months. All participants received dietary counseling and were instructed to consume a specific amount of calories. Ninety-one people completed the trial.

Fasting blood glucose levels decreased in the alcohol group (from 140 to 118 mg/dL) but not in the nonalcoholic-beer group. These decreases were greatest among patients with higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels at study entry. Postprandial glucose levels did not significantly differ between the groups.

Comment: This study has some notable limitations. First, caloric intake during follow-up — which could have confounded the results — was not reported. In addition, longer-term glycemic control as measured by HbA_1c would have been a more clinically relevant outcome. Nonetheless, this randomized trial is most welcome, because most prior studies of the effects of moderate drinking on clinical outcomes have been observational, which limits conclusions that can be drawn. By itself, the finding that moderate drinking decreased fasting glucose should not lead people with diabetes to begin drinking. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of moderate drinking for reaching the improved outcomes suggested by observational studies.

— Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine January 10, 2008

Citation(s):

Shai I et al. Glycemic effects of moderate alcohol intake among patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicenter, randomized, clinical intervention trial. Diabetes Care 2007 Dec; 30:3011.

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