Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition where the body doesn’t use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use sugar for energy.
When the body doesn’t make enough insulin or resists it, blood sugar levels can get too high.
Alcohol and High Blood Pressure: Is there a Connection?
A team of scientists from Wake Forest School of Medicine was curious to find out if drinking alcohol could lead to high blood pressure, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high. It’s often called a “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t have any symptoms.
How did the Researchers Conduct the Study?
The researchers studied data from over 10,000 people who were part of a trial called ACCORD. This trial was designed to learn more about heart disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
The participants’ drinking habits were grouped into four categories: those who didn’t drink at all, light drinkers (who had 1-7 drinks per week), moderate drinkers (8-14 drinks per week), and heavy drinkers (15 or more drinks per week).
What Did the Study Find?
The results were pretty interesting. The scientists found that light drinking didn’t seem to increase blood pressure. However, both moderate and heavy drinking were linked to increased blood pressure.
This meant that people with type 2 diabetes who drank alcohol moderately or heavily were more likely to have high blood pressure.
What’s more, the scientists discovered a trend: the more alcohol the participants drank, the higher their blood pressure tended to be.
Why is this Important?
This study is important because it shows that moderate alcohol drinking could lead to high blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other health problems.
The researchers suggest that people with type 2 diabetes should be aware of how much alcohol they’re drinking and discuss it with their doctors.
What Else Can I Do to Lower My Blood Pressure?
Apart from limiting alcohol intake, other lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure. These include eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and managing stress.
There are also other studies you might want to read if you’re interested in blood pressure. For example, research shows that fasting may help lower blood pressure, and olive oil could have a similar effect.
Other studies suggest that cherry concentrate or taking 3 grams of omega-3s a day could also help keep high blood pressure at bay.
Remember, it’s always important to discuss any dietary or lifestyle changes with your healthcare provider before starting a new regimen.
The findings of this research were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The main author of the study was Jonathan J. Mayl, along with other fellow researchers.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about How to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
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