Alcohol Use, Diabetes, and Mental Health: Risks, Intersections, and Care

ISSUP Bahamas would like to invite you to its maiden webinar. This webinar will focus on the topic, "Alcohol Use, Diabetes, and Mental Health: Risks, Intersections, and Care."

Date: Tuesday, 23rd June 2026

Time: 11:00 AM EDT | 4:00 PM London

Register for the Webinar

Chronic alcohol use is a potential risk factor for the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which causes insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction that is a prerequisite for the development of diabetes.  This webinar discusses the impact of alcohol use and diabetes on mental health, demonstrating the interplay between diabetes and alcohol use and broadly mental health.  The webinar also provides evidence-based safe practices for persons with diabetes who consume alcohol, which is among the most used drugs worldwide.  

The webinar will: 

• Define key concepts related to mental and physical health, including mental health, addiction , depression, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and diabetes, to establish a shared understanding of their characteristics, interrelationships, and relevance to wellbeing and clinical outcomes. 

• Review global trends and prevalence of AUD and diabetes.

• Examine the complex relationship between diabetes and co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression and alcohol use disorder (AUD), with attention to associated complications and impacts on treatment and overall wellbeing.  

• Explore general management approaches for individuals with co-occurring AUD and diabetes.

Target Audience:

• Primary care physicians and endocrinologists
• Psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals
• Addiction and substance use professionals
• Diabetes educators, dietitians, and allied health professionals
• Nurses, social workers, and community health workers
• Public health practitioners and programme managers
• Policymakers, researchers, and students in health-related fields
• Persons living with diabetes, caregivers, and the broader public interested in health and wellbeing

Learning Outcomes:

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Define and understand key concepts related to mental health, addiction, and diabetes

2. Become familiar the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V) criteria for alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder, one of the most common mental health conditions

3. Understand the complex interplay between diabetes, AUD and mental health disorders, including depression

4. Understand the biopsychosocial-spiritual model used in healthcare, social work, and psychology

5. Learn about the evidence-based practices for persons with diabetes who wish to safely consume alcohol 

    

Presenter:

Dr. Sean Leonardo Knowles

ISSUP Bahamas, Asssistant Director for Nassau.
Co-CEO/Chief Physician, E-Man-U-Well Medical Center.
Psychiatric Medical Officer, Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Reserve Senior Lieutenant & Force Medical Officer (Acting), Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

References:

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed).  Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing

2. Engler, P. A., & Ramsey, S. E. (2011). Diabetes and alcohol use: detecting at-risk drinking. The Journal of family practice, 60(12), E1–E6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12038860/

3. Huang, YZ., Luo, F., Ran, X. et al. (2025). Association between alcohol consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japan: A population-base longitudinal cohort study. Sci Rep, 15(630), 1- 10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84597-5

4. International Diabetes Federation (2026). Global: Diabetes Global Report 2000-2050. https://diabetesatlas.org/data-by-location/global/

5. Kim, S. J., & Kim, D. J. (2012). Alcoholism and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes & metabolism journal, 36(2), 108–115. https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2012.36.2.108

6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2023, April). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes

7. National Institutes of Health. (2025). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

8. World Health Organization. (2022). World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338

9. World Health Organization.  (2025, September 30).  Mental disorders.  https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders

10. World Health Organization. (2024, September 2). Mental Health at Work. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.