Things To Remember About Alcohol & Diabetes
Alcohol and diabetes can be a tricky combination, but its absolutely possible to enjoy drinking responsibly if you remember these guidelines:
If you found this guide to diabetes and alcohol useful, please sign up for our newsletter in the form below. We send out a weekly newsletter with the latest posts and recipes from Diabetes Strong.
Whats The Relationship Between Alcohol And Diabetes
There is debate on whether light to moderate amounts of alcohol use can increase the risk of diabetes. Alcohol use, however, is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. There are several ways that alcohol may do this, including:
- Damaging your pancreas where insulin is made
- Increasing your weight, a known risk factor for diabetes
- Impairing the liver, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels
The safest way to avoid any of the potential risks of alcohol and diabetes is to avoid using alcohol altogether.
If you want to start living an alcohol-free life but cant seem to stop, help is available. Contact The Recovery Village to discuss that can fit your needs.
Alcohol And Diabetes Can Be A Fatal Combination
Tom was nine years old when he was diagnosed with diabetes, 10 when he began drinking alcohol, and 34 when he died from diabetes complications aggravated by daily alcohol use.
Alcoholism and diabetes are both chronic illnesses. When not managed, either one can be fatal. When both develop in the same person, risks of complications and early death increase.
In a person with diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body doesn’t use insulin that is produced. Insulin is a hormone that regulates levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose, a form of sugar, supplies the body with energy.
Alcoholism–the compulsive use of alcohol despite negative consequences–creates obstacles to diabetes management.
“Tom couldn’t hold a job because of his drinking, and he’d spend the money for his medical needs on booze,” said Tom’s sister. “He tried to regulate his insulin with how much alcohol he was going to drink.”
This strategy ignores human metabolism. Normally the liver helps to raise blood-sugar levels by releasing glucose. This does not happen when alcohol is in the system, because the liver’s first priority is to get rid of alcohol. So, alcohol lowers blood-sugar levels. This puts people with diabetes at risk for hypoglycemia if they have not eaten for a while.
Limiting alcohol means following the guidelines for moderate drinking: no more than two servings of alcohol per day for men and one serving per day for women. One serving is:
You May Like: How Many Points Does Metformin Lower Blood Sugar
Diabetes And Alcohol Consumption Dos And Don’ts
People with diabetes who drink should follow these alcohol consumption guidelines:
- Do not drink more than two drinks of alcohol in a one-day period if you are a man, or one drink if you are a woman. .
- Drink alcohol only with food.
- Drink slowly.
- Avoid “sugary” mixed drinks, sweet wines, or cordials.
- Mix liquor with water, club soda, or diet soft drinks.
- Always wear a medical alert piece of jewelry that says you have diabetes.
Show Sources
Alcohol Prevents Your Liver From Doing Its Job
The main function of your liver is to store glycogen, which is the stored form of glucose, so that you will have a source of glucose when you havent eaten. When you drink alcohol, your liver has to work to remove it from your blood instead of working to regulate blood sugar, or blood glucose. For this reason, you should never drink alcohol when your blood glucose is already low.
Read Also: How Long Can A Person Live With Diabetes
Can Diabetes Be Controlled With Alcohol
No. For one thing, the amount of alcohol needed to cure diabetes would almost certainly kill you anyway. More importantly, your body can no more cure itself of diabetes than it can cure itself of cancer or any other serious disease by drinking large quantities of alcohol. Your liver may be able to process moderate levels of alcohol, but that wont help your pancreas produce insulin again or undo the damage that heavy drinking causes on a cellular level.
Wine does contain some antioxidants which are believed to fight heart disease and certain types of cancer. But this effect is derived from non-alcohol components in wine. Specifically, resveratrol is found in grape skins. Beer, white wine, and distilled alcohol contain no resveratrol at all. Furthermore, none of these benefits are likely to apply to individuals who drink heavily or in excess. Since the negative effects of excessive drinking far outweigh these relatively minor positive effects when averaged across several people.
Learn More About Alcohol And Diabetes At Nwpc
Alcohol affects each person with diabetes differently, which is why talking with your health care provider about your medical history is crucial. If you are looking for advice and resources on managing your diabetes, or if alcohol is safe for you to drink, schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners at NWPC today. We offer Telehealth visitsand in-person appointments for all your medical needs.
Also Check: What Are The Symptoms Of High Sugar
Test Your Blood Sugar
After you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels can drop up to 24 hours later. Check your blood sugar before and while you’re drinking and then again before you go to bed.
A healthy range is between 80 mg/dL and 130 mg/dL before bed. If yours is low, follow your physician’s recommendations, such as consuming some carbs to counteract the drop.
The Pancreas And Its Hormones
The pancreas, which is located behind the stomach, serves two functions. The first function, which involves most of the pancreatic cells, is the production of digestive enzymes. Those enzymes are secreted directly into the gut to ensure effective food digestion. The second function is the production of several hormones. Two of the hormones are potent regulators of blood sugar levels. Both hormones are produced in areas of the pancreas called the Islets of Langerhans, which, quite literally, are islands of hormone-producing cells in a sea of digestive enzyme-producing cells. Among other cell types, the Islets of Langerhans include an inner core of insulin-producing beta cells surrounded by a layer of glucagon-producing alpha cells.
Insulin primarily serves to lower blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of sugar in the muscles and fat tissue as well as the conversion of glucose into its storage form, glycogen. In addition, insulin inhibits the production of more sugar molecules in the liver. Conversely, glucagon primarily serves to increase blood sugar levels. Accordingly, it promotes gluconeogenesis and the breakdown of glycogen into glucose. The actions of insulin and glucagon must be finely balanced, because both lower than normal blood sugar levels and higher than normal blood sugar levels can have deleterious effects on the body.
Blood glucose regulation by insulin in healthy people and in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Recommended Reading: D50 And Insulin For Hyperkalemia
How Long Does Alcohol Affect Blood Sugar
alcoholicalcoholicalcoholblood sugarblood sugar
. 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.
What Drink Lowers Blood Sugar
Are you stuck in a funk in the middle of the day? Consider steeping a cup of green tea, which contains 28 milligrams of caffeine and may help prevent diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Green tea and green tea extract may help lower blood glucose levels and may play a role in preventing type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a review of studies.
People who drank green tea regularly for more than 10 years had lower body fat and a smaller waist circumference than those who did not, according to a study referenced in the review. According to a study published in April 2020 in the journal Diabetologia, obesity can increase a persons risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes by at least sixfold.
One of the reasons green tea may help prevent diabetes is that it contains polyphenols. Epigallocatechin gallate is a powerful compound found in it . EGCG has been shown to increase glucose uptake into muscle cells, Palinski-Wade says. According to a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Science in February 2019, the process of EGCG stimulating glucose entry into muscle cells may also be useful in the treatment of obesity.
One cup of green tea contains 0 carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar or fat, and only 2.4 calories, according to the United States Department of Agriculture , making it an all-around healthy choice.
You May Like: Most Common Side Effect Of Metformin
It Contributes To Type 2 Diabetes And Weight
If you have type 2 diabetes, you have some level of metabolic disease, and adding the sugar and calories from alcohol to your regular diet is only going to contribute to your metabolic disease, explains Harris.
For those already struggling with high triglycerides, the regular consumption of alcohol can significantly worsen your levels. Even just one or two drinks per night are 7 to 14 drinks per week and more than 40 drinks per month.
How To Cut Back On Alcohol
If you are drinking alcohol every day, it’s probably a good idea to cut back. This is especially true if you’re drinking more than one or two drinks a day.
Otherwise, you’re at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder . Here are several tips to help you reduce your alcohol intake:
Set a Realistic Goal
Set a limit on how much you’re going to drink. Make it less than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.
You can also add in other motivators such as getting better sleep or exercising more.
Make a Plan
Putting your goals down in writing often can help you visualize them.
You can also include a list of reasons to reduce your drinking. Your plan should include the amount you want to drink as well as motivation for doing so.
Don’t Keep Alcohol in Your Home
One of the easiest ways to reduce drinking is to get rid of the alcohol in your home. This removes temptation and can help you reduce the number of drinks you consume.
It is less likely that you’ll go out for a drink every time you think of having one.
Keep Track of Your Drinks
Keep your plan in a notebook or on your phone. This way, you can keep track of your drinks and compare your progress to your goals.
Replace Alcohol with Other Beverages
An easy way to reduce the number of drinks you consume is to replace them with non-alcoholic beverages.
If you’re out drinking with friends, you can alternate between an alcoholic drink and soda water, juice, or a mocktail.
Do Other Activities
For example, you can:
Also Check: Diabetes Low Blood Pressure
Never Drink On An Empty Stomach
From the first sip, alcohol is present in your bloodstream. Food can help to decrease the alcohol absorption rate into the bloodstream. Drinking on a full stomach, or having a healthy snack before a cocktail, reduces the risks of your blood sugar dropping while helping your liver process sugars more effectively. Some of the best food choices for diabetics include:
- Leafy greens like kale, broccoli and spinach
- Whole grains like quinoa and brown rice
- Plant-based proteins sourced from beans or nuts
- Eggs and low-fat dairy products
- Chicken or other low-fat poultry options
Can Diabetic Drink Whiskey
The following drinks can spike your blood sugar and then dip dangerously low if you do consume them along with alcohol. Hard liquors do not provide carbohydrates on their own but may cause very low blood sugar levels when consumed alone. Do not mix them with sugary drinks or drink them on an empty stomach.
You May Like: Walmart Insulin Otc
Government Guidelines On Alcohol Units
To help keep health risks from alcohol at a low level, its safest not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. These guidelines are the same for men and women. The guidelines also recommend that if you choose to drink up to 14 units a week, spread this over at least three days.
But what does this actually mean when youre in the pub or having dinner with a glass of wine at home?
It means you shouldnt drink more than six medium glasses of wine or six pints of lager a week.
But the size of the glass and type of alcohol affects the number of units, so its best to check the guidelines at drinkaware.co.uk
If You Are Vomiting From Alcohol
If you begin to vomit because of excessive alcohol consumption, its critical to first test your blood sugar and test your ketone level. Whether you have ketones or not, next its important to try drinking water to replenish the fluids you lost and prevent dehydration.
If you did have large ketones, and youre unable to keep fluids down, you should call 911 or ask a friend to drive you to the emergency room. The only way to safely rebalance your hydration, blood sugar, and ketone levels is an intravenous bag of saline, electrolytes and possibly glucose and insulin.
Even if you dont have ketones, repeated puking and the inability to keep water down means you need to get to the emergency room quickly. Dont be embarrassed, dont hesitate. Just get the help you need. Its not a fun part of life with diabetes, but itll keep you alive.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Lower Blood Sugar With Medication
How Much Alcohol Do Drinks Usually Contain
If you have diabetes and are wondering how much alcohol you should drink, it is worth reading the following list to see how much alcohol is contained in each type of drink.
One unit :
- 1/2 pint of standard strength beer, lager or cider
- 1 pub shot/optic/measure of sherry or vermouth
- 1 pub shot/optic/measure of spirit , eg gin, vodka or whisky.
Need For Performing Alcohol Blood Test
The need for performing the alcohol blood test is know all the signs and symptom of intoxication in a person. These signs and symptoms are
- Changes in mood
- Nausea with vomiting due to hyperacidity
- Judgment becomes poor
These are common signs and symptoms for intoxication with alcohol. If the quantity is taken more than there can be alcohol poisoning. The symptoms include
- Confusion state
- Breathing becomes irregular and may be slow
- Convulsions
- Body temperature can be lowered
If one found the above symptoms than doctor consultation is required otherwise there can be many more symptoms which can be present and can even lead to patient death.
Also Check: Can Metformin Lower A1c
Is Drinking Alcohol With Diabetes Dangerous
Drinking lots of alcohol is dangerous for anyone. However, with larger amounts of alcohol, serious hypoglycaemia can occur.
Some sources advise strict carbohydrate management, perhaps even chips or pizza, if a large amount of alcohol has been consumed.
However, avoiding alcohol in large quantities is the best recourse.
Effects Of Alcohol Consumption In The Fed State
In people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, single episodes of alcohol consumption generally do not lead to clinically significant changes in blood sugar levels. In fact, some studies have indicated that isolated episodes of drinking with a meal may have a beneficial effect by slightly lowering blood sugar levels that tend to rise too high in diabetics . This potentially beneficial effect was observed in both men and women, regardless of age. The alcohol amounts administered in those studies were usually between 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg, leading to blood alcohol levels between approximately 0.03 and 0.1 percent . Those doses are equivalent to approximately 2.5 to 5 standard drinks. Interestingly, studies of acute alcohol exposure in nondiabetic people have yielded quite variable results, noting decreases, increases, or no changes in glucose levels.
-
Blood sugar levels in the fasting state
-
Hemoglobin A1c , a blood component that reflects blood sugar control over the past 2 to 3 months
-
C-peptide, a molecule that is produced together with insulin .
Based on those biochemical markers, the researchers found the following results:
Read Also: How Many Points Does Metformin Lower Blood Sugar