Diabetes: Do alcohol and tobacco use increase my risk?

Do alcohol and tobacco use increase the risk of diabetes?

- Victoria / Northern Ireland

Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Yes, alcohol and tobacco use increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

While studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) may actually lower the risk of diabetes, the opposite is true for people who drink greater amounts of alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can impair its ability to secrete insulin and ultimately lead to diabetes.

Tobacco use can increase blood sugar levels and lead to insulin resistance. In addition, chemicals, such as nornicotine, found in tobacco may increase the risk of diabetes. In fact, heavy smokers — those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day — more than triple their risk of developing diabetes.