Wine Consumption and Glycemic Control

Many studies have reported that alcoholic beverage consumption, especially in the form of wine, reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 40%. This association suggests that wine consumption may somehow improve the body's ability to control its blood glucose concentration. Indeed, it has been reported that when wine is consumed immediately prior to ingestion of glucose, the release of insulin is enhanced and blood glucose concentration is lowered. The mechanism of wine's effects on blood glucose concentration is unknown, but is likely related to its ethanol or antioxidant content. In this study, the investigators plan to test whether wine or plain ethanol (vodka) ingestion alters the control of blood glucose in subjects who have diabetes or pre-diabetes.