Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse has become increasingly staggering. Alcohol related deaths are estimated to be 8,724 in 2007 in the UK, whereas more-than doubled in the USA with 19,170 alcohol related deaths in 2001, and comparatively 16,700 deaths in Australia in 2003.Alcohol dependence can be defined as a condition whereby repeated alcohol consumption leads to harmful consequences. It is characterized by compulsive alcohol use, and often leads to physiological dependence of alcohol. Physiological dependence means that a person demonstrates symptoms of withdrawal and high tolerance of alcohol consumption, leading to heavy or excessive consumption of alcohol. When symptoms become distressing, difficult to manage, or leads to low quality of life, alcohol dependence is usually diagnosed at this stage.Studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can be good for you, and in fact, can decrease the risk of Type 2 Diabetes (NIDDM). However, if someone had elevated liver enzymes (GGT and ALT), even with moderate levels of alcohol consumption – Type 2 Diabetes has a higher risk. This is a concern for alcohol dependent people who are unaware of increased liver enzyme activity, or underestimate their consumption of alcohol.It should be noted that these findings are in their preliminary stages, and further examination is currently being done around the world. But it all studies have highlighted the consistent results that suggest a higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes among heavier alcohol consumption or ‘heavier drinkers’.Some research also suggested that Type 2 Diabetes was at highest risk for those who had abnormal liver tests and were non-drinkers. This result was explained that these current non-drinkers at baseline were formerly heavy drinkers. Therefore, those with increased liver activity although non-drinkers were still at risk of Type 2 Diabetes due to being heavy drinkers in the past.In summary, those of moderate alcohol consumption had much lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes if no liver enzyme dysfunction existed. Those who drink heavily had higher risks of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Lastly, those who had abnormal liver enzyme functions were at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes even with moderate levels of alcohol consumption.