Estimating the frequency of diabetes mellitus among patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in a tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study

Abstract

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition linked to multiple systemic complications, including metabolic disturbances such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The relationship between alcohol consumption and the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) remains complex, with evidence showing both protective and harmful effects depending on the quantity and pattern of alcohol intake. Despite global concerns, Indian studies evaluating the prevalence of diabetes in individuals with AUD remain limited. This study aims to estimate the frequency and severity of DM among AUD patients and explore associations with socio-demographic and biochemical variables. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a three-month period (January to March 2025) at R.L. Jalappa Hospital, Kolar. Ninety-five male patients aged 20-65 years diagnosed with AUD as per DSM-5 criteria were included. After detoxification and stabilization, fasting blood samples were collected to assess Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and HbA1C levels. A diagnosis of diabetes was established based on FBS ≥101 mg/dL and HbA1C ≥6.5%. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26, with chi-square tests and regression analyses performed to determine statistical significance. Results: Among the 95 patients, 86.3% were diagnosed with severe diabetes and 13.7% with moderate disease. Although socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and employment did not show significant associations with severity, biochemical parameters did. FBS showed a statistically significant association (p=0.002) with diabetes severity and emerged as an independent predictor (OR = 5.46, 95% CI: 1.25-23.94, p=0.02) in regression analysis. Conclusion: The study highlights a high frequency of severe diabetes among individuals with AUD, with FBS being a significant marker of severity. Routine screening and early intervention in this vulnerable population are essential to mitigate long-term complications associated with hyperglycaemia and alcohol-related metabolic derangements.