Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Control Study in Uyo Metropolis, Southern Nigeria

The association between alcohol intake and the risk of diabetes has not been consistent  in many epidemiological studies. The authors attempted to find the association between the risk of type 2 diabetes and alcohol consumption in an age and sex matched case-
control study between March and December 2016 among middle aged and elderly  adults in Uyo Metropolis, Southern Nigeria. Cases were defined as "known diabetics"
and "persons with FBS>126mg/dl or RBS> 140 mg/dl". Controls were defined as "persons who are not a known case of diabetes" and with "FBS<126mg/dl or 
RBS<140mg/dl". Alcohol consumption was assessed and classified into lifetime  abstainers, former drinkers and current drinkers at various levels. There was a linear  inverse relationship between alcohol intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes among the  case group in this study. After adjustment for potential confounders, a decreased risk of diabetes was found in subjects who drank >21 drinks/week [O.R=1.52 (95%CI: 1.01, 
1.91], 14.1 - 21 drinks/week [1.61 (95%CI: 0.92, 2.12)] and 7.1-14 drinks/week [O.R= 1.82 (95%CI: 1.66, 2.23)] when compared with those who drank ≤1 drink/week and the association with diabetes was not statistically significant. The risk of diabetes mellitus was reduced with consumption of higher quantities of alcohol. This highlights the probable protective effect of alcohol intake on the risk of diabetes mellitus. Prospective 
studies would be necessary to establish a causal relationship between the two variables.