Alcohol management strategies of college students with diabetes

Alcohol management strategies of college undergraduates with diabetes were studied in order to identify which strategies were associated with decreased alcohol consumption and consequences.

Data came from 450 undergraduates with diabetes who were among 90,000 students from 123 postsecondary institutions who completed the Spring, 2006 National College Health Assessment.

A majority of respondents (68.0%) reported alcohol use in the previous month, with 41.8% consuming five or more drinks in one sitting during the previous 2 weeks. High alcohol management strategy use in the past year was associated with fewer heavy drinking episodes and fewer alcohol-related consequences. Two strategies, avoiding drinking games and pacing one's drinking, were especially strong predictors of reduced consumption and consequences, and were more common among older students.

Developing effective strategies to manage alcohol intake is especially important for students with diabetes due to short- and long-term hazards of excessive drinking.

Alcohol use is a common aspect of college culture and may hold perceived social benefits for students. Healthcare clinicians should help students with diabetes to identify alcohol management strategies that are perceived as effective and feasible. Avoiding drinking games and pacing drinks appear to be strategies especially worthy of promotion.