Year: 2015
Type: editorial
Abstract: The need for research addressing alcohol use disorder and diabetesAlcohol use needs to be taken into account in the management of diabetes, but alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often overlooked, from both research and clinical perspectives.Treating both AUD and diabetes in concert is likely to improve patient outcomes, and we must now advance and bridge these research and clinical areas.The diabetes epidemic is a global health crisis.It affects 347 million people world-wide and is implicated in 1.5 million deaths annually [1].Diabetes-related deaths are expected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years, and by 2030 it is projected to be the seventh leading cause of death [1].Type 2 diabetes accounts for more than 90% of cases [1].It is characterized by the body's progressive inability to use and produce insulin.Research suggests that many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by altering risk factors such as an unhealthy diet, sedentary life-style, obesity, smoking and heavy alcohol use [1].However, most patients at high risk for, or with, type 2 diabetes continue with their unhealthy behavior patterns.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by an absolute insulin deficiency.The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is also increasing, more than doubling among children during the past 20 years [2].It is not known how to prevent this disease, but its management requires life-long administration of insulin multiple times per day, blood glucose monitoring four or more times per day and close management of diet and exercise [1].The goal of medical management of both types of diabetes is avoidance of acute complications, including episodes of hypo-and hyperglycemia, as well as long-term complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and necrosis leading to amputation [1].Alcohol use plays a complex and modifiable role in the occurrence of these complications, but it is often overlooked from both research and clinical perspectives.A search of papers published in Addiction between 2005 and 2015, for example, revealed only one paper with 'diabetes' and 'alcohol' in the title and eight with 'diabetes' and 'alcohol' in either the title or abstract.The leading diabetes journal, Diabetes Care, published 15 papers with 'alcohol' in the title and 117 with 'alcohol' in the title or abstract during this period.The vast majority addressed alcohol use generally, and did not focus on heavy use or alcohol use disorder (AUD).This paucity of research is surprising, given evidence from observational studies indicating that heavy alcohol use contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and disease-related complications in both types.Although low AA021446, T32-AA07290, R01-AA023502, and T32-AA07290.
Source: Addiction
DOI: 10.1111/add.13187
Institutions: University of Connecticut, UConn Health, Yale University
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2178362375