Heavy alcohol use linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults
Heavy alcohol use linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults News-Medical.Net
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Heavy Alcohol Use Increases Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Middle-Aged Adults
Research presented at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California indicates that heavy alcohol use may increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults. The American Physiology Summit is the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS).
Defining Heavy Alcohol Use
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines heavy alcohol use as consuming five or more drinks per day or 15 or more drinks per week for men, and consuming more than four drinks per day or eight or more drinks per week for women.
The Impact on Glucose Regulation
Heavy alcohol use can impair the function of the liver and pancreas, which can affect the control of glucose (blood sugar) in the body. While young adults may not experience severe impairment of fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance due to heavy drinking, the association between alcohol use and diabetes in older adults is not clear. As the U.S. population ages, the number of people developing Type 2 diabetes is increasing.
The Study
Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington’s Cardiovascular Laboratory of Health conducted a study on two groups of middle-aged adults aged 50 to 64. One group, labeled as “heavy drinkers,” was at risk for developing alcohol use disorder based on the U.S. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and a dried blood spot phosphatidylethanol (PEth) test. The PEth test measures levels of a biomarker that forms in the blood after consuming alcohol. The second group, labeled as “nonheavy drinkers,” had PEth scores below 20 ng/mL.
Findings
The research team analyzed additional blood samples from both groups. The heavy drinkers had higher fasting glucose levels, indicating that heavy alcohol use may have negative effects on glucose regulation in aged populations.
“Although there were no significant differences in kidney or liver function between the two groups, alcohol drinking that exceeds the recommended limits causes organ damage throughout the body and increases not only the risk of potentially developing Type 2 diabetes, but also other diseases. Our team recommends not drinking every day. If people do drink alcohol, make sure for men, it’s no more than four drinks on any single day, and for women, no more than three drinks on any single day.”
– Chueh-Lung “Laura” Hwang, PhD, PT, senior author of the study
This study was funded by NIAAA AA028537.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | Not mentioned in the article |
No specific SDGs, targets, or indicators mentioned in the article are directly relevant to the issues discussed. The article focuses on the link between heavy alcohol use and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults. While this issue is important for public health, it does not align with the specific SDGs, targets, and indicators identified in the article.
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Source: news-medical.net
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