Overview
Diabetes is an impairment in the body’s ability to process glucose for energy. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that results in the body attackings its own cells responsible for producing insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is the result of insulin resistance, where the body produces insulin but doesn’t respond effectively to its presence.
Substance use can increase the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by decreasing insulin sensitivity. Stimulants like cocaine and depressants like alcohol can mask some of the symptoms of diabetes or facilitate life-threatening complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Conversely, diabetic neuropathy can result in chronic pain that leads to prescription painkillers, which can in turn lead to opioid dependence.