
Glass of red wine a day can keep diabetes under control
A glass of red wine a day can keep diabetes under control, say scientists.
A study of patients who did not normally drink found those having the regular tipple with their evening meal had healthier hearts and cholesterol levels than those who drank mineral water or white wine instead. And they slept better than those drinking water.
Researchers followed 224 participants with type 2 diabetes - the form linked to obesity - for two years and put their findings down to the healthy antioxidants in dark grapes called phenols - the most well-known of which is resveratrol.
"Red wine was found to be superior in improving overall metabolic profiles."
Prof Iris Shai, Ben-Gurion University
Prof Iris Shai, of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, said: "The differences found between red and white wine were opposed to our original hypothesis that the beneficial effects of wine are mediated predominantly by the alcohol."
However both red and white wine improve sugar control among those carrying genes that helped them to metabolise alcohol slowly.
It is though that diabetes affects nearly four million people in Britain although around 850,000 are currently undiagnosed.
Diabetics could help keep their condition under control with a glass of wine Photo: Alamy
The first long-term alcohol study of its kind - published in Annals of Internal Medicine - aimed to assess the effects and safety of initiating moderate alcohol consumption in diabetics and sought to determine whether the type of wine matters.
People with diabetes are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular diseases th
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