METHODS: Data from the 2012-2014 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were combined to generate weighted estimates of binge drinking (≥ 4 drinks on an occasion for women or ≥ 5 drinks on an occasion for men) and heavy drinking (≥ 8 drinks per week for women or ≥ 15 drinks per week for men). Three years were aggregated to ensure robust estimates among smaller demographic populations. Estimates were calculated for adults who had ever been diagnosed with diabetes and compared to estimates for adults who had never been diagnosed with diabetes. This association was assessed by age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and education.
RESULTS: Overall, adults who had been diagnosed with diabetes were less likely to have been binge drinkers (5.9%, 95% CI: 4.6, 7.5) or heavy drinkers (2.7%, 95% CI: 1.9, 4.0) than adults who had not been diagnosed with diabetes (15.2%, 95% CI: 14.3, 16.2 and 6.2%, 95% CI: 5.6, 6.8, respectively). Among adults aged 18-34 years, adults with diabetes were as likely to be binge drinkers (25.3%, 95% CI: 15.1, 39.3) as adults without diabetes (23.3%, 95% CI: 21.6, 25.0). A similar pattern was seen for heavy drinking. American Indians with diabetes are just as likely to be heavy drinkers (3.8%, 95% CI: 1.8, 7.7) as American Indians without diabetes (4.1%, 95% CI: 2.7, 6.0). The association between diabetes and excessive drinking did not differ by income, education or gender.
CONCLUSIONS: Generally, adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes are at lower risk for excessive drinking compared to adults who are not diagnosed with diabetes. However this is not the case among all demographic groups. Health care providers and public health officials should be aware of excessive alcohol use among people with diabetes and provide targeted interventions and counseling to patients.