Alcoholism and Type II Diabetes

illness

My sister is an Alcoholic and a Type II Diabetic and so was her father. This has often lead me to wonder if the two are related in some way. I’ve done a lot of research in an attempt to confirm my suspicions and although I haven’t found exactly what I was looking for I did find out some interesting things.

Between 75% and 95% of Alcoholics are hypoglycemic. This is interesting, but I’m still wondering if any percentage of these people were hypoglycemic before they were Alcoholics. I can understand why a person who be hypoglycemic after becoming an Alcoholic. I really want to find out if having Diabetes can increase the risk for Alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a physical disease like Diabetes. Alcohol is treated as an emotional problem but the base of it is physical. As with any illness, there are mental, emotional and spiritual components. For instance, I have chronic pain and while the pain is physical, it has caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. The same is true with Alcoholism. Many people, my husband included, don’t understand Alcoholism and don’t view it as a physical disease. They view it as a lack of will power and overall selfishness.

I will continue my research on this subject and hopefully I will eventually find the information I need to make my conclusion

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Is alcoholism a physical

Is alcoholism a physical problem? Yes, I admit that physique and psyque are closely relate, any problem of one is explicitly or implicitly manifested on the other...

ammorton's picture

alcoholism is definately a physical disease

and like you said it is mental as well. When the disease gets bigger than you then the willpower and selfishness goes right out the window. Thats when you have to get help with it. But you have to WANT to get help. So for people like your husband, that is where he sees that as being selfish. It is really a kind of vicious circle, but that is where the hitting rock bottom comes in. It is kinda the push some need to reach out for the help.
I never noticed people who are alcoholics to also be hypoglycemic. My mom isn't and some others I know I dont think are either. Let me know about your research on this, it's interesting.

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