Diabetes and alcohol have a cautious relationship. While the American Diabetes Association (ADA) neither encourages nor prohibits alcohol consumption, it does emphasize care and safety if you decide to have a drink.
Can consuming alcohol affect your diabetes?
Yes. Alcohol can influence your blood sugar levels in two ways. First, it can enhance the effects of insulin and oral diabetes medications and decrease your blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours. If you are not careful when consuming alcohol, you run the risk of developing hypoglycemia. Signs of hypoglycemia include sweating, shakiness, anxiety, nausea, confusion, and hypotension. Second, sweet alcoholic beverages like wine coolers, liqueurs, and sweetened mixed drinks are high in carbohydrates and thus have the ability to increase your blood sugar levels.
In addition to the effects of alcohol on blood sugar, the signs of hypoglycemia and intoxication are very similar. This could present a dangerous scenario if you or someone else assumes you are hypoglycemic and administers an insulin injection.
Finally, excessive alcohol use can interfere with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet, which are key to managing diabetes.
Advice Regarding Alcohol and Diabetes
- Diabetics should take particular care if they choose to drink alcohol.
- Drink alcohol with food to decrease the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Men should drink two or fewer alcoholic beverages a day. For women, keep it to one per day. One alcoholic drink is equal to a 12 oz beer, 5 oz glass of wine, or 1 ½ oz of distilled spirits like vodka or gin. Pregnant women should not consume any alcohol.
- Mix alcohol with a calorie-free beverage like club soda or diet soda. This cuts down the amount of carbohydrates you intake as well as the amount of alcohol you consume.
- Wear a medical ID bracelet indicating you are a diabetic so no one confuses your hypoglycemia for intoxication or vice versa.
P.S. Diabetics must also refrain from using any psychotropic as this can also signal to you or someone else that you are hypoglycemic.
P.P.S. Visit exercises for diabetics today to get information on reversing diabetic complications.
