The Connection Between Alcoholism & Type 2 Diabetes
With over 34 million Americans living with diabetes, about 90% of these affected individuals have type 2 diabetes. While most people know that leading an inactive lifestyle and eating a poor diet can increase your risk of developing this chronic condition—so can excessive alcohol consumption.
In recognition of American Diabetes Month, the experts at North Georgia Recovery Center are here to outline the ways that alcohol can affect those living with this chronic health condition.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
When you eat food, most of it is broken down into sugar, which then enters the bloodstream. This then signals the pancreas to release insulin—which is responsible for turning that sugar into energy for your cells. Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by the body’s inability to efficiently turn that blood sugar into fuel.
With type 2 diabetes specifically, your body is still producing insulin. However, your body isn’t using that insulin well enough to properly regular your blood glucose levels.
How Alcohol Abuse Can Cause Type 2 Diabetes
When people drink excessively and abuse alcohol, it leaves them at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis. With this chronic health condition, the pancreas’ β-cells are damaged and even destroyed, which are cells responsible for producing, releasing, and storing your body’s insulin. Once your body is unable to properly produce or release insulin, your blood sugar levels can’t be regulated. Subsequently, this leads to the development of type 2 diabetes.
While binge drinking on its own can increase your risk of pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes, those struggling with alcohol addiction are at a significantly higher risk.
Seeking Help for Addiction at North Georgia Recovery Center
The road to recovery starts with taking the first step. Let us walk alongside you on the path to sobriety and wellness. When you choose to get treatment at North Georgia Recovery Center, you can rest assured knowing that you will be treated by licensed therapists in our state-of-the-art facilities. Every one of our team members is certified to address and effectively treat the issues that come along with addiction.
To schedule your free consultation with our team, call (678) 940-7873 or reach out to us online today.
