How Do You Bring Your Blood Sugar Down Quickly
When your blood sugar level becomes too high known as hyperglycemia or high blood glucose using fast-acting insulin is the quickest way to lower it. Another quick and effective strategy to reduce blood sugar is to exercise.
When insulin levels are low, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis . This is a life-threatening situation.
If youre not sure what to do, call your doctor for instructions on how to give insulin and whether or not to go to the emergency department.
This article discusses how to immediately drop your blood sugar, when to go to the ER or visit a doctor, and how to manage high blood sugar.
How Does Alcohol Lower Blood Sugar
A standard alcoholic drink from time to time should not cause any serious effect on blood sugar levels.
A standard alcoholic drink tends to be:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of whiskey or other spirits
Whether blood sugar levels rise or fall will depend on different factors. For example, how much food you’ve eaten and the amount of alcohol consumed.
A fall in blood sugar may arise from various causes. One leading cause is alcohols effect on the liver.
A primary function of the liver is to metabolize alcohol. It takes approximately one hour for the organ to break down a standard size alcoholic beverage.
However, if there is too much alcohol in the body, the liver has trouble performing other organ functions, including:
- Glycogenolysis
- Gluconeogenesis
When these two liver processes do not occur due to alcohol metabolism, the body does not have glucose to help bring blood sugar levels back to normal. This means that someone can develop hypoglycemia .
Serious consequences may arise, including:
- Vomiting
- Disorientation
How Long Does Alcohol Affect Blood Sugar
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. Similarly one may ask, how does alcohol affect your blood sugar?
While moderate amounts of alcohol may cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels, especially for people with type 1 diabetes. Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.
Also, how much alcohol can a diabetic have? According to the CDC, women with diabetes should consume no more than one serving of alcohol a day. Men with diabetes should consume no more than two servings per day. One serving of alcohol typically looks like the following: 12 ounces of beer.
what is the best alcohol to drink for a diabetic?
The best alcoholic drinks for diabetes include:
- Light beer and dry wines. These alcohol drinks have fewer calories and carbohydrates than other alcoholic drinks.
- Liquor neat, on the rocks, or with a splash.
- Sugar-free mixers for mixed drinks.
Can you eat sweets and drink alcohol?
Candy: Like salty stuff, super-sweet foods can make you want to drink more and you‘re more like to reach for alcohol than water, Glassman says. Plus, sweets are full of empty calories. Note: If you are dying for a leftover cupcake or piece of cake or whatever, don’t try to eat around the craving.
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Test Your Blood Sugar Levels Before And After Drinking
Because alcohol impacts your liver and can affect blood sugar levels, you should always test your blood glucose levels before consuming an alcoholic beverage. If your blood sugar levels are low, it might be best to abstain from a drink. If levels seem safe, its still imperative to check your blood sugar after an alcoholic beverage to understand its impact. Knowing your blood glucose number can help you make informed decisions around whether you should consume or not, so its imperative to monitor how your body responds to alcohol as you drink.
Alterations Of Lipid Metabolism
Abnormalities in the levels and metabolism of lipids are extremely common in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and may contribute to those patients risk of developing cardiovascular disease . Alcohol consumption can exacerbate the diabetes-related lipid abnormalities, because numerous studies have shown that heavy drinking can alter lipid levels even in nondiabetics. Alcohol can induce several types of lipid alterations, including elevated triglyceride levels in the blood , reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Elevated Triglyceride Levels
Hypertriglyceridemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, elevated triglyceride levels can cause severe inflammation of the pancreas . In addition to being highly painful and potentially fatal, this inflammation may interfere with the production of insulin, thereby potentially worsening control of blood sugar levels and making hypertriglyceridemia a particularly serious complication in diabetics. Heavy drinking can cause alcohol-induced hypertriglyceridemia in both diabetics and nondiabetics . In fact, from a practical standpoint, heavy drinking should be considered as a possible contributing factor in all patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Abstinence from alcohol generally leads to normalization of the triglyceride levels, unless the person has an underlying genetic predisposition for hypertriglyceridemia.
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How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Sugar
Alcohol affects your blood sugar for as long as it is in your body. Alcohol can cause blood glucose levels to rise or fall, depending on how much you drink. The liver is very important when it comes to regulating blood sugar levels throughout the day. The main function of your liver is to store glycogen, which is then stored in the form of glucose. When drinking, alcohol affects the liver and its ability to release glucose into the bloodstream.
Alcohol is capable of raising your blood sugar. Alcoholic drinks are high in sugar. This can cause your blood sugar to spike. The effects of alcohol on your blood sugar will initially increase as the sugar from alcohol enters your blood, then peak once the maximum amount of sugar in the alcohol has been absorbed. This can take about 1-2 hours. Your body then releases insulin to bring your high sugar level down and inhibits the release of glucose removed from the liver. So your blood sugar will initially spike then decrease.
Once your body has absorbed all the sugar it can from alcohol, it will start to use up the sugar, decreasing your blood sugar levels. Alcohol impairs liver function and can keep your liver from releasing enough glycogen to keep your blood glucose levels from going too low. As the liver inhibits the release of more sugar, your blood sugar levels will lower. This makes your blood sugar low as long as the alcohol keeps impacting your livers normal function.
- Confusion
- Blurry vision
If Its Your First Drink As A Person With Diabetes Start With One Drink
If its your first drink as a person with diabetes, just start off with one low-carb drink like a dry red or white wine or a low-carb beer , dont take insulin for the carbs in that drink. Eat a meal with it, and take insulin for the carbohydrates in that meal.
And of course, check your blood sugar often! Then, take notes on what happens so you have a reference for next time.
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Alcohol Reduces The Effectiveness Of Diabetes Medications
- If youâre on diabetes medications, you should be more cautious when youâre drinking alcohol. Some medicines are made to help your body lower your blood sugar levels. When paired with alcohol, the combination can cause hypoglycemia or insulin shock. When your blood levels drop too quickly, your body can go into literal shock, leading to a medical emergency.
- If youâre on diabetic medication, itâs a good idea to talk to your doctor before indulging to ensure it is safe to do so and how to find the right balance if so.
How To Drink Alcohol With Diabetes Safely
At the end of the day, no one expects you to abstain from alcohol for the rest of your life just because youve been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And unless you have other health conditions that call for avoiding alcohol, theres no reason why you cant enjoy a refreshing glass of wine or unique microbrew now and then.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when drinking alcohol with diabetes:
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When You Drink So Much That You Become Unconscious Or Blackout Drunk
While youre unconscious, your blood sugar could begin to plummet as a result of the alcohol, having not eaten enough, and all of the other everyday causes of low blood sugar . At this point, youre not going to wake-up to the symptoms of a low blood sugar or be able to consume carbohydrates.
This puts you at severe risk for seizures or death because your friends think youre just sleeping when youre actually blackout drunk and suffering from severe hypoglycemia at the same time.
On the flip-side, you may become so drunk that you forget to take your evening long-acting insulin dose or you forget to dose insulin for the pizza and cake you ate a party. Then, while still unconscious, your blood sugar is rising to dangerously high levels, putting you at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, coma, or death.
Why Is It Important To Wipe The First Drop Of Blood
It is no longer essential to perform a dual wipe, which involves wiping away the first drop of blood and then testing the second. The amount of blood required in the early days of blood glucose testing was significantly larger, and the tests were much slower. The first drop of blood from a lancing site contained more platelets, which might cause the lancing site to shut up before enough blood was retrieved for the test, but the dual wipe assured a longer, larger flow of blood. Furthermore, the first drop of blood may include a higher volume of interstitial fluid and/or higher potassium levels, which could cause the results of the first generation of test strips to be thrown off. A dual wipe is obsolete and superfluous with the enzymes employed in todays test strips, as well as the decreased blood volume needs and faster testing speed.
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How Long Should You Not Drink Alcohol Before A Blood Test
Some blood tests, such as those that examine liver function or triglyceride levels, may require you to abstain from drinking alcohol for the whole 24 hour period. Alcohol can stay in your circulation for several days in trace amounts. If you have any concerns about your alcohol use, talk to your doctor before your test.
Also, inquire with your doctor about whether you can smoke cigarettes before the test or if you should refrain from doing so during your fast.
Effects Of Alcohol On Diabetes
Here are some other ways that alcohol can affect diabetes:
- While moderate amounts of alcohol may cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels, especially for people with type 1 diabetes.
- Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.
- Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat and may affect your blood sugar control.
- Alcoholic drinks often have a lot of calories, making it more difficult to lose excess weight.
- Alcohol may also affect your judgment or willpower, causing you to make poor food choices.
- Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
- Alcohol may increase blood pressure.
- Alcohol can cause flushing, nausea, increased heart rate, and slurred speech.
These may be confused with or mask the symptoms of low blood sugar.
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The #1 Worst Drink For Your Blood Sugar Say Dietitians
Anyone with diabetes has to keep an eye on their blood sugar. According to The Mayo Clinic, tracking blood glucose can help anyone keep track of the effect their diabetes medications may have on their blood sugar levels, monitor their blood sugar levels if they think it has spiked, and even see the results of diet and exercise have on their overall blood sugar levels.
Even if you think you have kept yourself in prime condition, sometimes certain foods or drinks can have an unforeseen effect on one’s glucose levels. The CDC reports that artificial sweeteners may have the potential to raise your blood sugar, while others have noted that alcohol has the potential to raise these numbers even higher, per Medical News Today.
While drinks filled with artificial sweeteners and alcohol may cause some serious issues for diabetics who need to prevent blood sugar spikes, one type does more harm than any other beverage out there.
“Soda is on the top of the list of drinks to avoid,” says Shannon Henry, RD at EZCare Clinic. “Usually, it contains 40 grams of sugar, and 150 calories, making it the worst drink for people with diabetes. This sugary drink is associated with weight gain, and tooth decay, so it is better to avoid them.”
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Henry isn’t alone when it comes to pinpointing soda as the worst drink for diabetics.
Diet drinks that rely on sugar substitutes don’t get off scot-free either.
Do You Need To Avoid Alcohol If You Are Trying To Lose Weight
If youâre trying to lose weight, the general recommendation is to abstain or limit how much alcohol you drink. The research on alcohol and weight loss is mixed, but alcohol can make it more challenging to lose weight for several reasons:
< ul role=”list”> < li> When you drink, you lose inhibitions< sup> 17< /sup> and may find yourself reaching for another drink, even if you only meant to have one. Youâre also more likely to choose foods and snacks you donât normally eat.< /li> < li> The extra calories from drinks< sup> 18< /sup> can add up quickly, especially if itâs a mixed drink. There are seven calories per gram of alcohol. So if you end the week with a few margaritas at happy hour and share a bottle of wine with a friend on Saturday night, youâve added close to 800 extra calories .< /li> < li> If your goal for weight loss is to optimize your health, alcohol has no nutritive value< sup> 19< /sup> , so it adds minimal benefit to your diet. < /li> < li> Since your body prioritizes alcohol metabolism over everything else, fat breakdown is also interrupted< sup> 20< /sup> . You may be taking in more calories while pausing your bodyâs natural ability to burn fat. < /li> < li> Excess drinking can decrease your motivation. You may feel too tired and lethargic after a night of drinking to participate in the activities that support weight loss, like exercise or prepping a healthy meal.< /li> < /ul>
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Why Does Vodka Raise My Blood Sugar
Those who have diabetes should avoid drinking alcohol because it increases and decreases blood sugar levels, causing dangerous fluctuations. Regardless of whether you have diabetes or not, drinking alcohol increases your chances of developing it as well as effecting lower blood sugar levels, as increased insulin secretion contributes to excess calories.
Why Is My Blood Sugar Low After Drinking Alcohol
How rop? You lose blood sugar when you drink alcohol because it inhibits the livers ability to release glucose into the bloodstream. A spike in blood sugar after drinking alcohol is also to blame for the fact that sugar is processed at a higher rate as a result of alcohol, resulting in fast metabolization below normal levels of sugar.
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Do I Have To Give Up Drinking Completely
Most experts do recommend that you stop drinking altogether if you feel that your consumption is out of control or unhealthily high. If this isnt an option for you right now, then even reducing your intake by half can help safeguard against many health-related problems associated with alcohol abuse. Remember though once you start drinking its much harder to stop than it is to cut back on your consumption gradually over time. If youre not able to stop drinking completely, then the least you should do is avoid heavy drinking days.
Xylitol Is Toxic To Dogs
While xylitol is well tolerated by humans, its highly toxic to dogs.
When dogs eat xylitol, their bodies mistake it for sugar and start producing large amounts of insulin.
When insulin goes up, dogs cells start pulling sugar out of their bloodstream. This can lead to low blood sugar and other side effects including liver failure, which can be fatal .
If you have a dog, keep xylitol out of reach or just dont buy it.
This reaction appears to only occur in dogs, and xylitol seems to be the only culprit.
Summary
Xylitol is toxic to dogs. If you own a dog, make sure to keep xylitol out of reach. Other sugar alcohols dont have this effect.
Out of all the sugar alcohols, erythritol seems to be one of the best options. Its also one of the most popular and commonly used types of sugar alcohol.
Heres what makes erythritol a good option:
- closely mimics the taste of sugar
- contains almost no calories
- minimally affects blood sugar levels
- causes significantly less digestive problems than other sugar alcohols
- good for your teeth
- wont harm your dog
However, even though erythritol is considered to be safe and well tolerated by humans, it doesnt mean that you should consume large amounts of erythritol or any other sugar alcohol regularly.
To promote overall health, its a good idea to cut back on your consumption of added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and low calorie sweeteners like sugar alcohols.
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Why Does Alcohol Lower Blood Sugar
The way that alcohol inhibits the livers standard function of releasing glucose sets the stage for a drop in blood sugar. Following alcohol consumption, the body begins processing sugar at a faster rate, which leads to the spike in sugar being metabolized below normal levels. These two factors alone can cause a significant drop in blood pressure, usually following the initial spike after consumption.
After absorbing the sugar from alcohol, the body will begin to use the sugar. This results in a decrease in blood pressure as the liver stops the release of more sugar. During this process, blood sugar levels are artificially low since alcohol keeps the liver from functioning normally. After about 12 hours, most of the alcohol is eliminated, and the liver begins to function normally, releasing sugar.
In most cases, mild to moderate amounts of alcohol can increase blood sugar. Drinking excessively will decrease the level, though, sometimes causing it to drop extremely low. This would be extremely dangerous for people with type 1 diabetes.