Alcohol use of diabetes patients: the need for assessment and intervention.
It is well known that diabetes self-care behaviors are critical to disease progression. Unfortunately, many patients do not adhere to diabetes self-care recommendations despite their importance. Alcohol use has been identified as a barrier to diabetes self-care adherence. Excessive alcohol consumption not only negatively impacts diabetes self-care adherence but also affects the course of diabetes. Diabetes patients who are at-risk drinkers are likely to have poor diabetes treatment adherence, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Alcohol consumption by diabetes patients is often inadequately assessed and addressed in their medical care. Brief interventions to reduce at-risk drinking have been well validated in a variety of patient populations and offer the potential to improve diabetes treatment adherence and outcome. Assessment and treatment of at-risk drinking could be readily incorporated into routine diabetes care. Strategies for brief assessment of and intervention for at-risk drinking are offered.
Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, DGIM, 111 Plain Street Building, Providence, RI, 02903, USA. pengler@lifespan.org
Patricia A
PA
Engler
Susan E
SE
Ramsey
Robert J
RJ
Smith
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D000431:Ethanol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents