The health benefits and risks of red wine among diabetes patients require careful interpretation, which leaves doctors a bit cautious whether they should advise their patients to drink or abstain from it altogether.
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But red wine’s benefits were far more numerous and more pronounced than those of white wine: Ruby-colored varietals significantly increased participants’ HDL cholesterol-the “good” form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease-by almost 10% and improved the overall cholesterol profiles of those who got it. Red wine drinkers also saw improvements in their apolipoprotein a1 levels-a measure of lipid metabolism. They were also given instructions to follow a Mediterranean diet with no calorie restriction.
Over the course of two years, wine intake was compared to water intake in more than 220 patients with diabetes. Another group drank one glass of white wine daily. The researchers reported at a European Society of Cardiology meeting in 2014 that significant improvement in cholesterol levels were seen in those who consumed white wine and did work out at least twice a week. But neither group of wine drinkers experienced an improvement in hemoglobin A1C, a measurement of blood sugar control over the previous two to three months. Though all beverages were provided free of charge, researchers relied on participants to self-report their alcohol intake to gauge adherence. This can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
But Wilcox says this study also suggests that when it comes to blood sugar levels, the type of alcohol may not matter much. “Although alcohol consumption at small volumes relates to less coronary heart disease and fewer heart attacks, ultimately beyond a certain amount of alcohol, the harm is greater than that benefit”, says Robert Eckel, MD, former president of the American Heart Association and a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
“Although red wine was superior and preferable, we would not recommend to completely stick only to it, but to enjoy from both wines in moderation, and as part of a healthy diet”, said Shai.
The researchers, most of who had been from the Ben Gurion College of the Negev in Israel, studied sort 2 diabetes sufferers managed by medication. A third group drank mineral water.
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For many years, researchers believed red wine might be a magical elixir. And while most alcohol-related hype has focused on red wine, actual research hasn’t always been so selective. During their evening meal, the volunteers had to drink the equivalent of 142ml of one of the following drinks: mineral water, dry white wine or dry red wine. “Consulting with your primary care physician or a subspecialist is an important step before you change a behavior that could potentially be harmful down the road”, he urged.
