Alcohol consumption on the long run causes diabetes, or even pancreatitis and many host of other diseases. He should quit drinking alcoholic beverages, Control his diet and have his illness be classified if either insulin dependent or non-insulin dependent. Non-insulin dependent diabetes require to consume medications(GLUCOPAGE) to work his pancreas harder for production of insulin. If his pancreas doesn't produce anymore insulin, he has to have insulin injections which have many classes: Fast acting, Long acting, Maintenance insulin , RNA based, cow based, pork based., Synthetic based(NOVOLOG,LANTUS) Plus when he has been shooting this shots himself in the long run he may develop insulin resistance, which case another drug called (AVANDIA) will be taken. And he may develop, on the long run, edema of the extremities, cataract, glaucoma, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, liver damage(because of too many medicines), kidney damage(because of too many medicines), peripheral neuropathy, obesity, and so on. In which cases you all have to prevent and treat so he'll live. Without money he'll have 3 years. With a medium sized budget he'll have 5-10 years. With a large amount of sum he'd live up to eighty if he's careful. My dad is a diabetic insulin dependent he was addicted to alcohol before but when he knew he had diabetes he stopped drinking. He is now 57 but the sad thing is he developed complications so he could not work but he is living on a disability insurance. So I hope this helps. Good luck.