Issue 214 Item 10 Alcohol Improves Insulin’s Action in Type 2 Diabetes

Acute alcohol consumption improves insulin action without affecting beta-cell secretion in type 2 diabetics "Moderate alcohol consumption improves your glucose metabolism and this may…prolong your life," lead researcher Dr. Angelo Avogaro also stated that, "the amount of alcohol in the diet should be strictly kept within 40 grams a day."

Dr. Avogaro of the University of Padova Medical School and colleagues investigated the effect of alcohol on glucose tolerance in eight healthy and eight type 2 diabetic volunteers.
On one occasion, the subjects consumed a total of 40 grams of 40% vodka while intravenous glucose tolerance tests were conducted. On the other occasion, they drank water as glucose tolerance was monitored.

In the diabetics, the area under the curve (AUC) for free fat acid was higher than in the controls. Alcohol reduced the free fat acid in controls by 17%. However, in diabetics there was a significant 23% drop (p = 0.007).

Beta cell response was markedly decreased in diabetics during both tests. Furthermore, alcohol increased insulin sensitivity significantly in both groups.

The researchers suggest that the effect of acute moderate alcohol consumption may be "partly due to the inhibitory effect of alcohol on lipolysis." This "may explain previous findings that indicate that alcohol intake is associated with an amelioration in glucose metabolism." Diabetes Care 2004;27:1369-1374.
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