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Prediabetes and alcohol

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CherryH

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Hi - I'm Cherry and this is my first post. I'm 64 years old and recently underwent surgery for breast cancer, followed by radiotherapy and now an oestrogen blocking pill (called anastrozole) for five years, oh - and a whacking calcium Vit D supplement to ward off thinning bones. Hopefully all that is going to offer me a total cure.

However yesterday, a routine blood test showed prediabetes - not anything I would have thought likely ....except I'm a heavy drinker. I only weigh 7 stones, so it's not a weight issue, my diet is pretty much a healthy one, and my energy and activity levels are good. So where has this come from ??? I chatted with the nurse who also considered me an unlikely candidate, although when I confessed to five or so bottles of wine a week, she did think this could be the cause.

Bizarrely, I'm almost pleased if I can avoid possible diabetes 2 through abstinence. I do need to stop drinking, albeit it beng a falsely pleasurable affair with an equally dependent husband. But googling the link between alcohol and diabetes isn't clear - so my questions are for anyone out there in the know....:

1) Can years of drinking excessive amounts of wine eventually cause diabetes?
2) Can high calcium and vit D supplements cause diabetes?
3) Can hormone blockers (called aromotase inhibitors) cause diabetes?

If anyone can throw any light on this I would be very grateful - this is a totally new are for me. Many thanks,

CherryH
 
I know some of the effects of alcohol on the body but I have never thought about it as a cause of diabetes. I Googled it and on a site called Talkingalcohol.com I found this.

"Alcohol and the onset of diabetes

Some studies have reported that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption can have a mild protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes for both men and women. On the other hand, other studies suggest that, for some people with type 2 diabetes, even moderate alcohol intake may induce low blood sugar levels.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a health condition that's connected with diabetes. Prolonged, heavy alcohol use can contribute to pancreatitis which, in turn, can lead to diabetes."

But, Cherry, how does your drinking stack up against the NHS advice about drinking levels. How many units in five bottles.

I am also diabetic and I drink wine. When I confess this to the NHS I usually understate the amount.
 
Thanks Squire, for your post. My drinking as far as the NHS guidelines go is off the richter scale! This is why I want to think it's alcohol that's caused it because it gives me the resolve to quit and is a problem I can do something about. A bottle of wine is generally 9 units (12% vol 75 ml bottle). This means 5 bottles a week is 45 units - and of course with weekends and any other excuse, somewhat more. At 7 stone and 64, I must be heading for trouble although I feel completely well.

Having said that, I've also googled my prescribed calcium supplement and that, too, can cause problems. Duh. It ain't easy, is it??!

The NHS guidleines are something around 14 units for women and 21 units for men. Fortunately, between you and me, you can add a bit more to that and be okay - but I'm seriously learning that actions have consequences.

Cherry
 
Over the years I have added quite a lot to the 21 (Haha) units of alcohol and find the pancreatitis explanation quite credible. At the moment my body seems to take exception to flour and sugar mostly. Grain and sugar are what beer is made from except for the Watney era when they used wheat flour. I would easily believe that my drinking caused the trouble.

We both drink too much even if we never had diabetes. If you want to take the view that alcohol caused your condition then who am I to tell you different but I bet you will still have the odd snifter. I will stop now before I come up with an argument in favour of drinking.
 
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