Moderate Drinking Reduces Diabetes Incidence – Study

Moderate Drinking Reduces Diabetes Incidence – Study

14 August 2017 - A five year international study of 70,551 men and women has confirmed the association between moderate drinking and reduced risk of diabetes.

The Danish study was published in Diabetologia in July this year and found that diabetes risk was lowest for Danish men and women drinking three to four times a week compared with those drinking less than once a week.

“In fact the study found that lifetime abstainers had a 76% increased risk of diabetes compared with occasional drinkers,” said Spirits NZ Chief Executive, Robert Brewer.

“The Danish study confirms several decades of previous research demonstrating an association between moderate drinking and reduced risk of diabetes in both men and women but, importantly, specifically separates out and compares lifetime abstainers, former drinkers and occasional drinkers reducing the risk of unintended research bias,” said Mr Brewer.

“These studies sit alongside others that show a range of health benefits associated with a healthy lifestyle and moderate drinking – with the critical thing being understanding what ‘moderate’ actually means.

“The Ministry of Health drinking guidelines are very clear in this regard and reflect current research – no more than three standard drinks a day for men and two for women a week and two days of no drinking. Drink more than this then, over time, the health benefits you might have accrued are reversed.”

And Mr Brewer says if drinkers wanted more information on standard drinks then they should visit www.cheers.org.nz which gave easy to understand information on this and how to stay safe and social when drinking.

“As always, to be healthy we should eat well, stay active and – if we choose to drink – drink moderately.”

ENDS

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