Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

According to a recent study, adults with Type 2 diabetes, consuming eight or more alcoholic beverages within a week’s time are likely to be a higher risk of developing the condition of high blood pressure or hypertension. The study results have been published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Senior study author Matthew J. Singleton said, “This is the first large study to specifically investigate the association of alcohol intake and hypertension among adults with Type 2 diabetes.”

Singleton added, “Previous studies have suggested that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with high blood pressure, however, the association of moderate alcohol consumption with high blood pressure was unclear.”

In the study, more than 10,000 adults with an average of 10 years of Type 2 diabetes participated, of which the majority were males. These participants were also at high risk of experiencing cardiovascular events due to their prevailing cardiovascular disease. 

The participants’ alcohol consumption habit was categorized as none; light (1-7 drinks per week); moderate (8-14 drinks per week); and heavy (15 to more drinks per week). 

Taking one alcoholic beverage in the study, meant consumption of 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. The number of drinks taken by participants per week was self-reported by the participating adults through a questionnaire.

Researchers categorised blood pressure levels of the participants according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults as normal (below 120/80 mm Hg); elevated (120-129/80 mm Hg); Stage 1 high blood pressure (130-139/80-89 mm Hg); or Stage 2 high blood pressure (140 mm Hg/90 mm Hg or higher). 

As the majority of participants were already on one or more medications for blood pressure, the blood pressure readings were in some cases adjusted considering this for having accurate analysis.

According to study findings:

  1. Light drinking was unlikely to lead to high blood pressure in adults.
  2. Moderate drinking is likely to result in increased odds of high blood pressure in adults by 79%; Stage 1 high blood pressure by 66%; and Stage 2 high blood pressure by 62%.
  3. Heavy drinking is likely to lead to increased odds of high blood pressure in adults by 91 per cent; Stage 1 high blood pressure by 149 per cent; and Stage 2 high blood pressure by 204 per cent.
  4. Amount of alcohol consumption is directly proportional to the vulnerability of developing high blood pressure or worsening of the condition of elevated blood pressure. 

Singleton said, “Though light to moderate alcohol consumption may have positive effects on cardiovascular health in the general adult population, both moderate and heavy alcohol consumption appear to be independently associated with higher odds of high blood pressure among those with Type 2 diabetes.”

Singleton added, “Lifestyle modification, including tempering alcohol consumption, may be considered in patients with Type 2 diabetes, particularly if they are having trouble controlling their blood pressure. People with Type 2 diabetes are at higher cardiovascular risk, and our findings indicate that alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension, so limited drinking is recommended.” 

However, further research is needed to confirm the findings of the study as it has several limitations. For one example, the study was based on alcohol consumption information of participants from a one-time questionnaire which means any changes in alcohol consumption over time were not taken into account.

The study suggests that people with Type 2 diabetes should moderate their drinking levels to low or fully avoid drinking as they are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure from excessive alcohol consumption. 

 

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