THE ACUTE IMPACT OF ETHANOL ON GLUCOSE, INSULIN, TRIACYLGLYCEROL, ANDFREE FATTY-ACID RESPONSES AND INSULIN SENSITIVITY IN TYPE-2 DIABETES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effect of ethan ol on insulin sensitivity, and glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) , and triacylglycerol responses in ten patients with non-insulin-depen dent (type 2) diabetes. In the test study an oral dose of 0.66 g ethan ol/kg followed by continuous intravenous infusion of 0.1 g ethanol/kg per h was given to maintain a constant ethanol level in the blood. In the control study identical volumes of oral water and intravenous sali ne (9 g NaCl/l) were given. After 90 min insulin sensitivity was deter mined by the hyperinsulinaemic, euglycaemic clamp technique. Ethanol c aused no change in blood glucose or insulin concentrations. The FFA le vel was suppressed by ethanol while the triacylglycerol level was unaf fected. The insulin sensitivity was not affected by ethanol. No major acute effect of ethanol on the glycaemic control in fasting type 2 dia betic patients was found in comparison with what is seen in healthy pe ople. The present study, along with the sparse literature, indicates t hat the ability of ethanol to induce hypoglycaemia is attenuated or ab sent in diet-treated type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we found no change in insulin sensitivity. Consequently, the risk of acute ethanol-induce d aberrations in carbohydrate metabolism in diet-treated type 2 diabet es seems to be less than previously expected,when alcohol is not taken as a part of a meal.