DIABETIC-PATIENTS ALCOHOL-USE AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE - RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRESCRIBED TREATMENT COMPLIANCE AMONG OLDER MALES

One hundred fifty-four male patients attending an outpatient diabetes clinic were interviewed to determine the incidence of alcohol use amon g them and to identify mechanisms by which alcohol use adversely affec ts the control of diabetes. Specifically, we determined how diabetic p atients' use of alcohol is related to compliance with their diabetes t reatment regimen, and diabetic patients' expectations of benefits from drinking alcohol and actual alcohol use is related to their quality o f life. Greater alcohol use was related to poorer prescribed insulin i njection compliance (p < 0.01), and stronger expectations of immediate , positive consequences of drinking alcohol were related to several in dices of lower quality of life (p < 0.005). These results imply intera ctive relationships among diabetics' alcohol use and expectancies, tre atment compliance, and quality of life.