Last month, I told you about a new congressional report detailing how to gain control of the country’s growing Type II diabetes epidemic.
Of course, the report focused on ALL THE WRONG THINGS…like adding a federal tax to soft drink sales. And it failed to mention important research into the many natural solutions to the problem…such as a new study showing how drinking alcohol (in moderation) can play a key role in warding off this terrible disease!
But don’t worry—I’ll reveal everything you need to know about this exciting, “buzzworthy” research in a moment. (Including the BEST TIME to imbibe.)
First, let’s back up to consider why many doctors insist people with insulin resistance (and full-blown diabetes) should always avoid this so-called “vice”…
Lack of understanding about alcohol
As you know, moderate alcohol consumption is a key part of the healthy Mediterranean diet. And it’s well-established that people who follow this diet have a much lower risk of developing (and dying from) chronic diseases, including Type II diabetes.
Plus, as I wrote a few years ago, the science shows that alcohol dilates peripheral blood vessels and helps blood circulation. (This is likely why many people with lifelong diabetes swear that moderate alcohol consumption specifically helps with neuropathy.)
However, despite these well-established findings, most doctors tell their patients with Type II diabetes to avoid drinking alcohol altogether. This is founded on the fear that the “carbs” will cause blood sugar spikes.
Now, technically speaking, alcohol is a carbohydrate—consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
But the body doesn’t metabolize it like other carbs.
In fact, most substances in the blood—including glucose—are metabolized by “first-order kinetics,” meaning the higher the concentration, the faster it’s metabolized.
But your liver metabolizes alcohol at a constant rate—known as “zero-order kinetics.”
Therefore, no matter how high your blood alcohol, the liver reduces it at a constant rate—equivalent to about one drink per hour.
So, you’ll never experience a sudden blood sugar spike from alcohol. (It also means that if you limit yourself to one drink an hour, your blood alcohol concentration will never get too high.)
Of course—people with Type I diabetes and diabetics who take insulin shots should still be cautious of alcohol consumption, as it can lead to dangerously LOW blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
But the problem here is the insulin—not the alcohol.
Now, let’s move onto the new study I mentioned earlier…
WHEN you drink matters
A team of researchers collected data from the U.K. Biobank on more than 312,000 people who self-reported as regular drinkers.
During an average of 11 years of follow-up, roughly 8,600 participants developed Type II diabetes.
But those who drank alcohol with meals had a 14 percent lower risk of developing the disease compared to those who drank without eating. And those who drank wine with meals experienced the GREATEST benefits.
I should note that this study wasn’t designed to look at Type II diabetes risk in drinkers versus non-drinkers. (We already know moderate drinkers have about a 30 percent lower risk of developing the disease compared to non-drinkers.)
Instead, the participants in this study ALL self-identified as moderate drinkers. So, the researchers aimed to look at how the timing of alcohol consumption impacted Type II diabetes risk.
“Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the timing of alcohol intake in the association between amounts of alcohol intake and the risk of Type II diabetes,” commented Dr. Hao Ma, one of the study’s lead researchers.
Ultimately, the results revealed that drinking with meals is particularly beneficial…
Of course, people have been drinking wine with meals for thousands of years. It’s rich in antioxidants, helps thin the blood, and even improves sugar metabolism. So it makes sense it confers such amazing health benefits.
The bottom line?
Forget about the neo-prohibitionist nonsense to avoid any and all alcohol consumption. Go ahead and enjoy a glass of wine—or two—at night. Especially if you’ve got Type II diabetes and aren’t taking insulin.
For more uncommonly effective, commonsense strategies to prevent and reverse Type II diabetes, take a look at my Integrative Protocol for Defeating Diabetes. To learn more about this innovative online learning tool, or to enroll today, simply click here.
Always on the side of science,
Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.
Sources:
“Study finds drinking wine with meals was associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes.” Heart, 3/3/22. (newsroom.heart.org/news/study-finds-drinking-wine-with-meals-was-associated-with-lower-risk-of-type-2-diabetes)
“Could a Little Wine at Mealtimes Cut Your Odds for Type 2 Diabetes?” U.S. News & World Report, 3/4/22. (usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-03-04/could-a-little-wine-at-mealtimes-cut-your-odds-for-type-2-diabetes)
“Moderate drinking may prevent Type II diabetes.” WebMD, 3/21/05. (webmd.com/diabetes/news/20050321/moderate-drinking-may-prevent-type-2-diabetes)