The relationship between alcohol consumption and glycemic control among patients with diabetes: the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry.
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.


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


METHODS
38,564 adult diabetes patients.


METHODS
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.
Ahmed
Ameena T
AT
Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. Ameena.T.Ahmed@kp.org
Karter
Andrew J
AJ
Warton
E Margaret
EM
Doan
Jennifer U
JU
Weisner
Constance M
CM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin