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The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Diabetes: The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is a common behavior. Little is known about the relationship between alcohol consumption and glycemic control among people with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and glycemic control.

DESIGN

Survey follow-up study, 1994–1997, among Kaiser Permanente Northern California members.

PATIENTS

38,564 adult diabetes patients.

MEASUREMENTS

Self-reported alcohol consumption, and hemoglobin A1C (A1C), assessed within 1 year of survey date. Linear regression of A1C by alcohol consumption was performed, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, and diabetes disease severity. Least squares means estimates were derived.

RESULTS

In multivariate-adjusted models, A1C values were 8.88 (lifetime abstainers), 8.79 (former drinkers), 8.90 (<0.1 drink/day), 8.71 (0.1–0.9 drink/day), 8.51 (1–1.9 drinks/day), 8.39 (2–2.9 drinks/day), and 8.47 (≥3 drinks/day). Alcohol consumption was linearly (p < 0.001) and inversely (p = 0.001) associated with A1C among diabetes patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with glycemic control among diabetes patients. This supports current clinical guidelines for moderate levels of alcohol consumption among diabetes patients. As glycemic control affects incidence of complications of diabetes, the lower A1C levels associated with moderate alcohol consumption may translate into lower risk for complications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Drs. Joe Selby and Robert Lipton for their helpful suggestions. This study was funded by NIAAA (R21 AA015721-01A1) and by the Kaiser Community Benefits Fund. Preliminary study findings were presented in abstract form at the Addictions Health Services Research Conference, October 23–25, 2006, Little Rock, AK.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA

    Ameena T. Ahmed MD, MPH, Andrew J. Karter PhD, E. Margaret Warton MPH & Constance M. Weisner DrPH, MSW

  2. Permanente Medical Group, Milpitas, CA, USA

    Jennifer U. Doan MD

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  1. Ameena T. Ahmed MD, MPH
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  2. Andrew J. Karter PhD
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  3. E. Margaret Warton MPH
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  4. Jennifer U. Doan MD
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Correspondence to Ameena T. Ahmed MD, MPH.

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Ahmed, A.T., Karter, A.J., Warton, E.M. et al. The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Diabetes: The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry. J GEN INTERN MED 23, 275–282 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0502-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0502-z

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