Wine may help control diabetes

Too bad I took so long to bring this little tidbit to my readers.... from the October 30, 2015 edition of The Week Magazine. I am sifting through the papers on my desk... Finally getting rid of some of the piles.

People with Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes are often advised that a moderate amount of alcohol won’t exacerbate their condition, but a new study suggests indulging in a nightly glass of wine might actually help. Researchers instructed 224 adults with the disease to drink 5 ounces of mineral water, white wine, or red wine with dinner for two years, TechTimes.com reports. The participants, who were previously teetotalers, also followed a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet rich in plant-based foods, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats. People with Type 2 diabetes are at greater risk for heart disease, but those who drank red wine increased their HDL, or “good,” cholesterol levels by about 10 percent and experienced fewer metabolic conditions, such as high blood pressure. Meanwhile, the red or white wine drinkers who were genetically identified as “slow alcohol metabolizers” saw improvements in their blood sugar control. Although red wine proved most effective against diabetes, the study’s senior author, professor Iris Shai, recommends that people “enjoy both wines in moderation, and as part of a healthy diet.”