Common medical advice cautions that diabetes and alcohol don't mix, but two new studies published in the journal Circulation report that there may be reason to revise that recommendation. Many studies have demonstrated the benefit of moderate alcohol intake on cardiovascular disease in healthy adults, although recommendations typically stop short of suggesting that those who do not already drink begin to do so. Until recently, however, the question of whether the benefit extends to individuals with diabetes has not been explored.

In the first study, Harvard researchers polled more than 5,000 female nurses with diabetes several times over a 14-year period, noting who in the group developed heart disease during that time. They found that consuming as little as half a drink each day significantly reduced the women's risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The second study found very similar results in almost 3,000 male physicians with diabetes who consumed 1 to 2 drinks per day of beer, wine, or liquor.

There are several reasonable explanations as to why alcohol beverages, although not typically considered health foods, can have some benefits. Alcohol can raise levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, and also inhibits the formation of blood clots that could trigger a stroke or heart attack. Still other research shows that alcohol lowers fasting insulin levels, another potential predictor of heart disease in people with diabetes.

Does all this positive spin on alcohol automatically suggest that all people with diabetes should begin to drink alcohol? Not necessarily. Alcohol can worsen two common complications of diabetes--nerve damage and eye disease--and the American Diabetes Association suggests that people suffering from either condition abstain. Also, the studies that suggest a beneficial role for alcohol looked at light or moderate intakes--2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women. (One drink is equal to 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. wine, or 1/1/2 oz. of distilled spirits.) Other studies have shown that routinely drinking more than this can actually increase disease risk.

What the additional information from these recent studies tells us is that a moderate intake of alcohol may offer people with diabetes some protection from heart disease. However, each person's drinking patterns and behaviors should be considered and recommendations made on an individual basis. People with diabetes should check with their physician to see if and how alcohol intake fits into their daily routine.