Is There Really A Connection Between Alcoholism And Diabetes?

One legal substance which has steadily contributed to the addiction epidemic across the nation is alcohol. As a matter of fact, it is indeed one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the USA. Though there’s no necessity for alcohol to be outlawed, there is actually a thin line between alcohol consumption and alcoholism that must be realized and understood. But if you’re suffering from alcoholism, do remember that there is a range of side effects that can crop up and can be equally deadly. Alcohol addiction, abuse, or excessive consumption can play a big role in aggravating the conditions of alcoholism, and of course, diabetes.

Diabetes is pretty much a prevalent condition covering maximum parts of the country. A survey carried out in 2014 suggests that approximately 29 million people are suffering from it. That comes to an estimated 9.3 percent of the total population.

It was also revealed that around 86 million adults have shown symptoms of pre-diabetes, a condition that enhances the possibilities and risks of burgeoning diabetes.

This ailment is primarily a condition that puts you in distress throughout your life. Your body loses its capacity to produce sufficient insulin, or your body’s cells are unable to respond to insulin in a proper way, or it may be both.

What Is Insulin?

It’s a hormone that is generated within your body. Its main function is to convert the glucose that is present in the blood into energy that acts as fuel for your body. People suffering from diabetes have an excess amount of glucose in their blood since it’s not properly converted or modulated.

An excess amount of glucose can give rise to issues that can put your life at risk, including nerve damage, kidney failure, strokes, cardiovascular diseases, and blindness. Aside from these, it can damage your organs, like the eyes and heart as well.

Types Of The Disease

Diabetes has two types – Type I and Type II. The latter is a bit less common than the former and is distinguished by the inability of the pancreas to generate insulin or produce an insignificant amount of insulin. Obesity and physical inactivity are the major factors that can cause Type II. On the other hand, Type I can possibly be genetic or an autoimmune disorder may lead to its development.

Now, there can be various factors that can primarily contribute to the buildout of Type II diabetes which includes:

Pancreatitis – Excess or heavy consumption of alcohol can cause pancreatitis which eventually results in diabetes

Insulin Sensitivity – If you are abusing alcohol, it implies that the insulin sensitivity in your body can hit an all-time low.

Weight Gain – Obesity is indeed the main reason why you develop Type II diabetes. And one big contributor to obesity is alcohol. Most of the alcohol that you buy from the market is filled with calories and carbs which eventually leads to weight gain.

Add to that all the unhealthy and sugary foods that you are most likely to consume after getting intoxicated.

Alcohol can have a sizeable impact on your blood sugar levels which increases the risk of developing Type II diabetes. There are quite a few ways by which alcohol may have a deteriorating effect on your blood sugar levels. Majority of the alcoholic beverages can be laden with sugar which leads to weight gain and obesity, and the process of controlling sugar levels in the blood becomes difficult.

Apart from sugar, these drinks contain large amounts of carbs which results in an increase in blood sugar levels. Even if you keep these factors aside, alcohol consumption can itself lead to a drop in sugar levels in the blood.

One aspect that most alcohol consumers tend to overlook is that drinking alcohol stimulates appetite which leads them to overeat or not eat at all. In both cases, your body is not getting the proper nutrition it needs, and instead, you’re putting on all the carbs and fats that might prove deadly.

Alcohol can also have a huge effect on your insulin shots and prevent them from working properly. It’s not that you shouldn’t drink, but consuming alcohol in excess or abusing it can have dire consequences and even your life may be jeopardized. So do take care of yourself.