A number of organizations have come up all across the world for bringing about awareness and social change amongst people and especially the younger generation. Thousands of people across the world die each year due to severe diabetes, suicides, homicides and car accidents caused by alcohol abuse.
- Side Effects of Alcohol-There are a number of facts about alcohol. When consumed in large quantities, it impairs judgment, leads to drunken driving, dangerous and violent behavior, sexual activities that are unintended and of course it ruins health and mental well being.
- Alcohol Related Accidents-As compared to women, more men consume alcohol and get involved in car accidents that are alcohol related. Even high school and college going students have been reported with alcohol consumption and even indulge drinking.
- Negative Effects on Health-Various campaigns have established that binge drinking occurs mainly between the age group of 18-35 years and this could lead to accidents while driving, unplanned pregnancies, more dependency on alcohol, intoxication, STD diseases, liver and cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, dementia or cancer of the mouth, liver and throat. Poisoning due to alcohol could even lead to loss of consciousness, death and coma.
- Diabetes Types-There are types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. While Type 1 is known as ‘juvenile diabetes’, type 2 disease is referred to as an ‘adult on-set diabetes’. While Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in children, Type 2 is diagnosed in adults.
- As far as Type 2 diabetes and alcohol are concerned, there are a few facts to be aware of. Various studies indicate different relationships between consumption of alcohol and diabetes. Some reports show that insulin sensitivity improves while in other reports it shows a decline in insulin levels.
- Fat Increase-Risk of Type 2 diabetes has been associated with lifetime drinking and binging patterns. Yeast and a type of sugar such as seen in grapes, potatoes, plums, rice, wheat, malt or barley are basic ingredients in alcoholic beverages.
- Beer Belly-Alcohol isn’t a carbohydrate or fat but does contain some amount of residual sugar and fat content. Beer belly develops in individuals due to fat deposits in the belly. Since there is no place for alcohol in the body, it fattens up the body.
- Increase in Blood Sugar Levels-Sugar in varying amounts is contained in different alcoholic drinks like spirits, wines, beer, other kinds of liqueurs etc. Blood sugar levels can get affected by alcohol consumption. At times the levels could go very low if you have been using insulin. Having snacks while drinking and avoiding drinking on an empty stomach can help greatly. Recommendations are that males suffering from diabetes should only take two standard drinks while females should take one standard drink per day.
Timely awareness is important. For both parent and child, diabetes is a difficult condition. It takes a psychological, emotional and physical toll on health. Being aware of the disease and its symptoms, treatment, management and prevention are ways towards an understanding of the disease. With early diagnosis and proper preventive care methods and medications, it is very much possible to control the bad effects of alcohol and diabetes. Actually the important message is whether the person has diabetes or not, only moderate drinking is recommended.
