AANP
Friday, January 25, 2013
Researchers have found that the usual quantity of alcohol consumed per occasion is a more important determinant of diabetes risk than weekly drinking frequency. Those who consume less than one alcoholic drink per drinking occasion, even if drinking six days a week, have a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume more than one drink per occasion, even if they drink much less frequently. (Findings of past studies on the effect of drinking patterns on diabetes risk have been inconsistent and researchers aimed to determine the true role of quantity consumed as well as frequency of drinking in the development of type 2 diabetes.)
This research showed that while abstainers and moderate drinkers have a relatively low risk of diabetes, those who have the lowest risk are those who consume an amount less than one drinking unit on six or more days of the week. However, at highest risk of diabetes are those who consume three or more drinks per occasion no matter how infrequently they drink. This study was released January 23, 2013 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and will be published in a future issue of the journal.