Cause and Effect: Binge Drinking and Diabetes

photo of unhappy young woman sitting on a sofa and drinking alcohol

Think the binge drinking you did in college was just good old-fashioned fun? Think again. New research is showing that binge drinking, common among partying college students for decades, may play a big role in the development of Type-2 diabetes.

More than Harmless Fun

For thousands of college students, the weekend is a time to get drunk and blow off steam. And to accomplish this as quickly as possible, many of them practice what has become known as binge drinking: for men, consuming five or more drinks in a two-hour period. Although this type of drinking has always been found on college campuses, it is also becoming common in the general population. In fact, an estimated 69 percent of binge drinking occurs in those over the age of 26. Once thought of as harmless fun with friends, we now know that binge drinking at least once a week over a period of time may cause changes in the brain that have far-reaching health implications.

New Insight from Studies with Rats

Scientists have long recognized a connection between the use of alcohol and the incidence of diabetes. Heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, and diabetes is a common side effect of this condition. In addition, alcohol is high in calories and may contribute to obesity which is a direct cause of Type-2 diabetes.

Now, researchers at Mt. Sinai Medical Center have discovered alcohol-induced changes in the brain which provide a direct link between binge drinking and diabetes. When rats were given alcohol in amounts equivalent to binge drinking in humans, inflammation occurred in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls metabolic functions. This, in turn, disrupted the brain signals which trigger insulin receptors to utilize glucose in the blood. In humans, this “insulin resistance” leads to chronically high amounts of glucose in the bloodstream and is a primary indicator of Type-2 diabetes.

Complications of Unchecked Diabetes

Why should you worry about diabetes? Left untreated, this condition can seriously affect your health, longevity, and quality of life. Just a few of the complications include:

  • Blindness
  • Poor circulation often resulting in amputation
  • Kidney disease leading to dialysis
  • Neuropathy or loss of feeling in hands and feet
  • Coronary disease and stroke

The good news is that with early detection, treatment of Type-2 diabetes, and treatment for binge drinking addiction, most of these complications can be successfully avoided!

Are you struggling with binge drinking or alcohol and drug dependency? It’s not too late to make a change for better health. 10 Acre Ranch is a California treatment center for men 18 and older. Call 877-228-4679 to learn about our social model program and lifestyle activities. Get started on your healthier life today!

Alcohol & the Bedroom: Facts & Myths

wine glass and alcohol in the bed

Alcohol has a reputation for improving sleep, libido, and sex—but what’s the truth about drinking and the bedroom?

The Impact of Alcohol on Sleep

Put down that nightcap. America is sleep deprived, and alcohol isn’t helping.

According to National Sleep Foundation studies, 20 percent of Americans sleep less than six hours a night, and sleep disorders are on the rise. Without healthy sleep, we have trouble thinking, performing cognitive tasks, and cementing memories. Sleep deprivation also kills sex drive and contributes to clinical depression. And, if that weren’t enough, lack of sleep makes us look older, faster.

Myth: Alcohol helps you sleep better.

Fact: Alcohol reduces the time it takes to fall asleep.

Alcohol has a reputation as a sleep aid, but that’s not the whole story. A drink or two may allow you to fall asleep faster, but it disrupts the REM cycles that leave you refreshed. Drinking also:

  • Disrupts your body’s circadian rhythms, which impact memory, cognition, and emotional stability.
  • Acts as a diuretic, forcing you to get up to pee more often.
  • Depresses the respiratory system, making you more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.

Lack of sleep can also put a damper on your sex life. Sleep deprivation causes what one California State University researcher calls “tense tiredness,” which can lead to a lack of sexual interest and a reduction in sexual performance. If alcohol is harming your sexual desire, then you and your partner may have to make use of monster cock hd porn in order to feel fully aroused in the bedroom.

Additional Impacts of Drinking on Sex

Alcohol is not the aphrodisiac it’s cracked up to be. While one or two drinks may act as a social lubricant, drinking can also have dangerous sexual repercussions.

Myth: Alcohol boosts my sex drive.

Fact: Drinking lowers inhibitions and leads to poor decision-making.

You may feel more “relaxed” and open to sex when you are drinking, but studies show that alcohol decreases erection and orgasm. In more regrettable cases, people wearing beer goggles don’t put proper sexual boundaries in place. They are more prone to:

  • Ruin marriages & relationships
  • Engage in casual one-night stands
  • Have unprotected sex with one or multiple partners
  • Contract an STD

10 Acre Ranch Drug & Alcohol Rehab

If you or someone you love is battling a drinking problem, we can help. Our proven recovery programs, recreational activities, and fitness opportunities provide a well-rounded approach to men’s addiction treatment. Begin the admissions process or find out about insurance benefits by calling 877.228.4679 today. Serving men 18 and older, our CA addiction rehab encourages clients to embrace an active, healthy lifestyle as they pursue sobriety and wellness.