Alcohol Use and Clinical Outcomes in Adults in the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange

Alcohol consumption has serious potential consequences for persons with type 1 diabetes. This cross-sectional study examined associations between drinking status and diabetes-related outcomes.

Participants included 934 adults at Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Registry clinics who responded to an e-mail invitation to complete an electronic survey with items on alcohol consumption; glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and body mass index (BMI) were extracted from medical charts. Participants were an average 38±16 years of age, 61% were women and 90% were non-Hispanic white; A1C was 7.8%±1.5%. The sample was made up of 11% (n=103) never drinkers, 9% (n=89) former drinkers, 61% (n=567) current (past year) nonbinge drinkers and 19% (n=174) current binge drinkers.

After controlling for covariates, diabetes distress was lower among never drinkers compared with former and nonbinge drinkers (p<0.009). Never drinkers compared with former drinkers had lower odds of past-year severe hypoglycemia (p=0.001) and lower odds of a neuropathy diagnoses (p=0.006). There were omnibus model trends toward associations between drinking status and diabetes self-care (p=0.10) and between drinking status and BMI (p=0.06). Never drinkers did not differ from other groups on daily frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring, A1C or past-year diabetic ketoacidosis (p>0.05).

These results suggest complex relationships between drinking and diabetes-related distress, and that recent severe hypoglycemia and the presence of neuropathy may motivate some to stop drinking. Prospective studies may improve understanding of these findings.