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Sober October And Insulin Resistance

LittleGreyCat

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
4,421
Location
Suffolk, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diet drinks - the artificial sweeteners taste vile.
Having to forswear foods I have loved all my life.
Trying to find low carb meals when eating out.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...ber-october-lead-to-long-term-health-benefits says:
"After their month of sobriety, their insulin resistance – a marker for diabetes – improved by about 25%.".

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/38/4/723 however says:
"RESULTS Fourteen intervention studies were included in a meta-analysis of six glycemic end points. Alcohol consumption did not influence estimated insulin sensitivity (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.08 [−0.09 to 0.24]) or fasting glucose (SMD 0.07 [−0.11 to 0.24]) but reduced HbA1c (SMD −0.62 [−1.01 to −0.23]) and fasting insulin concentrations (SMD −0.19 [−0.35 to −0.02]) compared with the control condition. Alcohol consumption among women reduced fasting insulin (SMD −0.23 [−0.41 to −0.04]) and tended to improve insulin sensitivity (SMD 0.16 [−0.04 to 0.37]) but not among men. Results were similar after excluding studies with high alcohol dosages (>40 g/day) and were not influenced by dosage and duration of the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS Although the studies had small sample sizes and were of short duration, the current evidence suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may decrease fasting insulin and HbA1c concentrations among nondiabetic subjects. Alcohol consumption might improve insulin sensitivity among women but did not do so overall."

Noting that this is for non-diabetic subjects.

More or less summed up in https://www.endocrineweb.com/news/d...-abstinence-really-improve-insulin-resistance
"Abstaining from alcohol on a short-term basis improved insulin resistance, according to new research by scientists in the U.K. However, a U.S. expert says the findings are counter to other research and to traditional advice that moderate alcohol intake may benefit those with diabetes.".

Also (my highlighting):

"
"If someone drinks moderately and has no reason to stop, they can continue," he says. "When people stop drinking, they become more insulin resistance, need more medications and blood pressure tends to go up," he says, especially in those with diabetes.

Bottom line, says Dr. Zonszein: "We will need more studies" to verify the U.K. findings.
"

So damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I was considering Sober October after reading the Guardian article because Insulin Resistance is a major issue with most T2s. However I can't now decide if it would be a good or a bad thing.
 
I'm wondering how the IR was measured. Were assays done or were markers used? What other factors were taken into consideration? Any way up, I'm not going to start drinking to find out if I am one of those for whom becoming teetotal may not have been a wise choice.
 
@Guzzler I think HOMA was tested. From the test I had they measure insulin and glucose and work out a score from there. As you say, not sure what equipment/methodology was used and if it was the same in all cases. I assume that there would be consistency within individual studies which is the main thing.
 
Whenever I read about alcohol 'helping' diabetes I always seriously consider starting!
 
@Guzzler I think HOMA was tested. From the test I had they measure insulin and glucose and work out a score from there. As you say, not sure what equipment/methodology was used and if it was the same in all cases. I assume that there would be consistency within individual studies which is the main thing.

Thanks. I suppose decisions like these comes down to individual choice. If the thought of giving up a relaxing glass of vino that has little or no affect on numbers makes one groan I see no reason to either give it up or start having it. Bottoms Up ;)
 
"When people stop drinking, they become more insulin resistance, need more medications and blood pressure tends to go up," he says, especially in those with diabetes.

I gave up alcohol about ten years ago. Fortunately for me, increased insulin resistance and blood pressure, along with more medication did not occur.
 
I was considering Sober October after reading the Guardian article because Insulin Resistance is a major issue with most T2s. However I can't now decide if it would be a good or a bad thing.
@LittleGreyCat, I see that you, like me, take Metformin. This muddies the waters considerably. The NHS line seems to be that a little alcohol with Metformin is OK but not a lot.
 
I have been teetotal for 26 years. Having been reminded of Kendrick's line in his book '... if you don't drink then start' I had one mouthful of red wine last night. Suffice to say that I will not begin drinking again any time soon. And yes, I developed T2 anyway.

NB I did not develope T2 after drinking one mouthful of red wine :)
 
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