Does Wine Help Or Harm People With Diabetes
With commentary from study author Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Doctors have long faced a paradox when advising their patients with type 2 diabetes on drinking alcohol. Moderate drinking has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, which would benefit people with diabetes who are at increased risk of the disease. Yet, people with diabetes have traditionally been advised to reduce their alcohol consumption to help better control their glucose levels.
Now preliminary results of a new study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Prague, found that adults with diabetes may be able to safely drink in moderation and reap the heart benefits.
The study randomly assigned 224 patients with controlled type 2 diabetes to have either mineral water, white wine or red wine with dinner every night for two years. All patients were following a healthy Mediterranean diet with no calorie restrictions.
Researchers found that red-wine drinkers had a modest improvement in high-density lipoproteins , the good cholesterol, and also had improved apolipoprotein A1, a component of HDL. Those who drank red or white wine also saw modest improvements in glucose metabolism.
Drinking one 5-ounce serving of red or white wine wasnt associated with any negative effect on medication use, blood pressure or liver function tests.
The Morning After Youve Been Drinking
If you end up having one too many, drinking a pint of water before you go to bed will help keep you hydrated. If youre lucky, it may also help prevent a hangover in the morning. If you do wake up with a hangover, itll still help to drink plenty of water.
And always have breakfast it will help you manage your blood sugar. If you cant face food or youve been sick, drink as many fluids as you can, including some sugary drinks if your blood sugar levels are low.
If youve got a blood sugar meter at home, check your levels regularly the next day. The symptoms of having a hypo are similar to feelings of a hangover, so you need to know if youre having one. No matter how awful you feel, you need to treat a hypo straight away. Dont ignore it.
If you take insulin, you might need to change your dose depending on what your levels are. Talk to your healthcare team about what you should be doing.
Effects Of Red Wine On Blood Glucose Levels
Some studies have actually shown that, if you drink red wine or any alcoholic drink, there are high chances that your blood sugar levels will reduce though for a span of 24 hours only. The American Diabetes Association claims that you should monitor your blood glucose levels before taking the alcoholic drink, and throughout in the course of the next 24 hours.
There have been reported cases where some people show the same symptoms when intoxicated and blood sugar levels are on the low. Monitoring your blood sugar levels ensures that you dont think that your blood glucose levels are at managed levels whereas you are simply intoxicated and your blood sugar levels are actually on the rise.
This calls for caution and mindfulness when you are taking anything alcoholic as a diabetic. Alcoholic drinks from juice contain high sugars that can increase blood glucose levels.
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Is Wine Good For Diabetes
According to the American Heart Association, adults diagnosed with diabetes stand 2-4 times chances of contracting chronic diseases related to the heart in comparison to their non-diabetic counterparts.
There have been mixed debates when it comes to taking red wine as a diabetic, some claiming that red wine helps in reducing chances for getting a heart disease whereas other caution against taking it when you are diabetic.
What Is Blood Sugar
Blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is sugar thats carried to the cells through the bloodstream. Blood sugar generally refers to the concentration of sugar in your blood at a specific time.
We get sugar from the foods we eat, which is normal, and its the bodys job to regulate blood sugar levels, so they dont go too high or low. When a person has balanced blood sugar, its called homeostasis.
Throughout the day, its not uncommon for blood sugar levels to go up and down based on when you eat and how your body releases a hormone called insulin. If youve just eaten, your blood sugar levels will go up, and then theyll settle back down. If you have diabetes, however, your blood sugar levels may have to be specially managed.
If your blood sugar is always high, you have hyperglycemia, which can happen in people who dont have a good handle on their diabetes. If your blood sugar is below normal, its called hypoglycemia, and this can happen in diabetics if they accidentally use too much of their medication.
So, what role does alcohol play in all of this and how does alcohol affect blood sugar?
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Fight The Common Cold
Who hates having a cold? Its the pits, isnt it? Ill do anything to avoid having one. You can do many things that can help you to stay away from getting all the miserables that come with getting a cold. Well red wine has antioxidants that can additionally help you avoid colds. Im all for it. I know it isnt the worst sickness but why not avoid it altogether if red wine can help!
So Can Diabetics Drink Wine
Still yes! Having diabetes shouldnt get in the way of enjoying wine unless your doctor advises you otherwise. As long as you are aware of when and how you can drink as well as which types of wines you can drink carefree, you are good to go.
Opt for dry red and white ones as well as sparkling wines. They are low in sugar and will not increase the sugar level in your blood. One or two glasses of these will only do you good. Organic red winebenefits are many organic wine is rich in beneficial compounds that can positively affect both your body and mind.
If you want to do more for yourself and your health, then you should also check our selection of organic wines and orange wine on sale which taste great and are completely naturally produced.
Cheers!
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How Red Wine Affects Blood Sugar
According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking red wine or any alcoholic beverage can lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours. Because of this, they recommend checking your blood sugar before you drink, while you drink, and monitoring it for up to 24 hours after drinking.
Intoxication and low blood sugar can share many of the same symptoms, so failing to check your blood glucose could cause others to assume youre feeling the effects of an alcoholic beverage when in reality your blood sugar may be reaching dangerously low levels.
Theres another reason to be mindful of your blood sugar levels while drinking: Some alcoholic beverages, including drinks that use juice or a mixer high in sugar, can increase blood sugar.
A Glass Of Wine A Day May Help Control Type 2 Diabetes
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A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine adds to the evidence that drinking a moderate amount of wine can be good for your health.hide caption
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A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine adds to the evidence that drinking a moderate amount of wine can be good for your health.
If you’re in the habit of drinking wine with dinner, there may be a bonus beyond the enjoyment of sipping a glass at night.
A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine adds to the evidence that drinking a moderate amount of wine can be good for your health.
The evidence comes from a new two-year-long study on people with diabetes.
Researcher Iris Shai of Ben Gurion University says in Israel and elsewhere, lots of people with diabetes get the message that alcohol even in moderation can be harmful.
“There is a myth that alcohol is not so safe for them,” Shai says.
In order to test the influence of wine on people with diabetes, Shai recruited about 225 people who already had elevated blood sugar, and they agreed to follow a Mediterranean style diet for two years.
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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.
The Red Wine Hypothesis
My wife, who likes to keep informed of my sugar level, remarked one day that my blood glucose seemed to be a bit lower on the mornings after I had had a drink. I decided to add my wine drinking to my daily glucose record as a prospective data collection, to test the hypothesis that red wine was associated with reduced blood glucose. As we had not noticed this effect for other alcohol and I knew that it was possible that white wine or beer might increase glucose, I also recorded an âother alcoholâ variable. This also included the occasional glass of whisky.
My planned statistical analysis was by the two-sample t-test method, because I knew that my glucose measurements followed an approximately normal distribution. To examine the effects of alcohol other than red wine, I planned to carry out a multiple regression of glucose on red wine and other alcohol jointly, as I suspected that the effects of the two would be opposite, and also because I thought that other alcohol consumption would not be independent of red wine, as drinking would often happen on social occasions.
When I came to do the analysis, I had data from 12 December 2016 to 30 June 2017. Alcohol and glucose were recorded on 192 days, and on 99 of the days I had drunk red wine the previous day. This would usually be two or three glasses of wine. Other alcohol was recorded on 19 days .
Figure 3
Fasting blood glucose against wine consumption on the previous day, with box-and-whisker plots.
Figure 4Figure 5
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Does Quitting Alcohol Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Quitting alcohol will help your blood sugar levels stabilize and reduce spikes in your blood sugar. The body often eliminates these spikes in blood sugar by turning the sugar into fat, creating obesity, sometimes known as a beer belly. By stopping alcohol use, you will reduce your risk of obesity which, in turn, will improve your blood sugar levels.
Red Wine Indicates A Better Cardiometabolic Rate
After 2 years, no material differences were identified across the groups in blood pressure, adiposity, liver function, drug therapy, symptoms or quality of life, except that sleep quality improved in both wine groups compared with the water group.
However, patients who drank wine showed decreased cardiometabolic risks compared with those drinking mineral water. The red wine drinkers experienced the most significant changes in lipid variables.
The researchers unexpectedly found that while the alcohol itself appears to aid glycemic control, red wine has a stronger effect on lipid levels and overall variables of the metabolic syndrome, suggesting that its non-alcoholic constituents also play a role.
The red wine had seven times higher levels of total phenols than the white wine. Whether the phenolic compounds increase the cardioprotectiveness is still debated. The team calls for differences between red and white wine to be further studied, with focus on the varied biodeliverability of the compounds.
The team found that genetic differences affected glycemic control and therefore suggest that genetic information could assist in identifying which patients with type 2 diabetes would benefit from moderate wine consumption.
Limitations include the participants not being blinded to treatment allocation, but the long-term nature of the study is a strength.
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Health Benefits Of Wine
Heres where wine gets a bit interesting nutritionally it does contain some promising antioxidants .
Antioxidants are molecules that prevent oxidation from occurring in your body by stopping free radicals this is a good thing!
Think of antioxidants like a vitamin. They dont contribute any calories but instead aide in various reactions that occur in your body to maintain good health.
Resveratrol, anthocyanin, and quercetin are all examples of the polyphenols most often found in wine. Polyphenols are naturally occurring plant substances that provide these beneficial antioxidant properties.
Red wine is 12x higher in antioxidants because the nutrients are contained in the seeds and skin of the fruit. And if you remember how wine is made then youll recall that only red wine is produced with the seeds and skin.
Still, while red wine does provide health benefits, be aware that wine also contains ethanol , which is considered a toxin to your body, especially consumed in larger than recommended portions.
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Drink Cows Milk Which Also Provides Protein And Calcium
Skim or low-fat milk is also a good beverage option, but it must be counted toward your carb total for a particular meal or snack, Basbaum says.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , a cup of 1 percent milk also provides 305 milligrams of calcium, which accounts for about 23 percent of the daily value.
Be aware that nondairy milk options, such as almond milk, may have added sweeteners and flavorings. They also often lack the blood-sugar-stabilizing protein of cows milk.
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How Sugar Affects Your Body
Too much sugar is bad for your heath in a number of ways. Firstly, its very high in calories, and excessive consumption can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Being overweight can make you more susceptible to long term health problems, including life threatening illnesses such as heart disease. A high-sugar diet can also lead to type 2 diabetes, which occurs when a persons blood sugar levels are too high.
Quite apart from the damage it can do to your body, sugar is also the main cause of tooth decay, which can lead to cavities if left untreated.
Red Wine Good For Diabetic Patients
Ending years of dispute on the health benefits of drink, a group of researchers from the University of Natural Resources and Life sciences in Vienna, Austria revealed moderate consumption of red wine can help fight Type 2 diabetics.
According to researchers red wine has a strong affinity towards the protein called PPAR-gamma, which is used in diabetic drugs. PPAR-gamma controls glucose absorption in the cells and also improves insulin intake. Red wines have more than four times capacity to bind PPAR-gamma compared to rosiglitazone, the drug currently used for diabetic treatment.
The head of the research team Alois Jungbauer is excited about the study result. He said, It’s incredible. It’s a really high activity. At first we were worried it was an artefact, but then we identified the compounds responsible in the wine.”
Even in the past, studies have shown that red wine can effectively fight Type 2 diabetics, a case wherein the patients do not produce enough insulin or are resistant to insulin. So, Jungbauer and his team focused on the protein binding capacity of red and white wines and the compound that triggers such a behavior.
Red wine may have many more compounds with diabetic fighting capacity. But, according to Véronique Chenier, research director at the department of oenology at the University of Montpellier 1, France, our body may not be able to absorb many of these compounds as our digestive system lacks the ability to digest all of them.
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Does Dry Red Wine Affect Glucose Levels
Foods that contain carbohydrates and alcohol, like dry red wine, are especially likely to affect blood sugar, also called blood glucose levels. If you are diabetic, it’s especially important to monitor your blood glucose and to watch how much and what kind of alcohol you drink. Video of the Day Cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and merlot are some of the driest of the red wines. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these wines contain about 4, 3 and 4 grams of carbohydrates, respectively, in a 5-ounce serving. Foods that contain carbohydrates — especially in liquid form — can cause a drastic and sudden increase in blood sugar levels. In addition, certain types of alcohol, such as dry red wine, may cause your glucose levels to increase initially. However, drinking more than one serving of dry red wine at a time may lead to the development of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose levels, if you are diabetic.Continue reading > >
It Wears On Your Entire Body
Regular drinking is not only going to make your blood sugars more difficult to control, its going to wear on your liver and your kidneys, both of which are already under greater stress if your blood sugars are higher than ideal.
If you already have diagnosed retinopathy in your eyes, regular drinking can worsen the health of the nerves and blood vessels in your eyes.
The long-term effects of regular alcohol consumption are well documented, but for people with diabetes, anything wears on us more noticeably because our body is already experiencing higher levels of inflammation along with blood vessel and nerve damage due to non-diabetic blood sugar levels.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people living with diabetes follow the general guidelines for alcohol consumption:
- Men: No more than 2 drinks per day on average
- Women: No more than 1 drink per day on average
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