Moderate Drinking Reduces Heart Disease in Diabetes (lifeclinic.com)

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Moderate Drinking Reduces Heart Disease in Diabetes

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A new study suggests that moderate drinking of alcoholic beverages

can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease in people with

type 2 diabetes whose arteries are blocked. It is estimated that up

to 80% of people with diabetes die from heart disease.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health studied more than

2,400 men participating in the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study

who had been diagnosed with diabetes at age 30 or older. In this

group, moderate alcohol use was associated with a lower risk of heart

disease. This relationship held even after the researchers adjusted

for obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and other risk factors.

Still, the difference in heart disease could be related to other

factors not studied.

No one should take up drinking because of this study. However, the

researchers concluded that light-to-moderate drinking with meals

could be " an attractive and beneficial lifestyle component for the

patient with diabetes. "

Related information: Hypertension & alcohol | Diabetes & alcohol

Sources: American College of Cardiology. Highlights from the Journal

of the American College of Cardiology, Nov. 30, 2001.