Wine for Diabetics - What's Next From The American Diabetes Association?

Well, it's that time of the month again, the much anticipated arrival of Diabetes Forecast - the official publication of the American Diabetes Association.  Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't quite understand how one of the feature articles can be called "Vintage Advice" - recommending wines!  I'm sorry, but I can't imagine that wine can be good for diabetics - it has sugar and alcohol - stressors to the liver and kidneys.  Am I missing something?  I must be because the article opens with, and I quote, "Like a glass of wine with dinner? You're in luck, healthwise: Wine has been linked to lower blood pressure and higher HDL ("good") cholesterol, less decline in brain function, better insulin sensitivity, and a reduced risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.  While the research is still new (and mostly from studies on mice), it's promising."

Let's start, first off it's mice, not humans, and initially healthy mice, not humans who already have diabetes!  I'd love to know who sponsored this one study they are quoting.  We all know about studies.  But let's just get back to common sense.

But this is also the magazine that supports gastric bypass as a cure for diabetes.  It always talks about what happens within one year of the surgergy.  Only problem, it doesn't talk about what happens five and ten years later.  I've met some of those people.  Believe me, they are struggling, and the weight comes back on.

But ths is also the magazine that says, "A diet high in red and processed meats, saturated fats, and sweets may harm your kidneys.  Researchers tracked three diets' effect on the kidney function of more than 3,100 women for 11 years.  While two healthier diets didn't affect the women's kidneys, the unhealthy "Western diet" was associated with worsening kidney function over time."  So what's misleading here - they are lumping together red and processed meats, saturated fats, and sweets.  Not studying the individual components.  I've got news - it's mostly the sweets and processed meats, along with red meat from grain and corn fed cows.

It's no wonder diabetes continues to grow and health care costs skyrocket.  Following this advice you are in for long term run with diabetes and no chance of recovery.  Just drink wine and then take medications - wonder how those two will mix?  Bet they didn't test that on the mice.