Certain types of alcohol are especially high in carbs and sugar, even if you drink them straight. The increase in blood sugar levels gives way to hyperglycemia, or too-high blood sugar. This can cause a host of symptoms, from thirst and frequent urination to slow-healing wounds and disorientation. This is especially true if you’re taking insulin or other diabetes medications that can cause low blood sugars.
How Is Sugar Alcohol Made?
The sweetener has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. You know there will be a wide range of indulgent, delicious, seasonal dishes and desserts at holiday gatherings. Just because you have T1D doesn’t mean you can take part in the tasty celebration—but you can plan ahead by eating lighter for the first part of the day. Decotiis also mentioned a new weight-loss drug — Retatrutide, made by Eli Lilly — that is said to be even more effective against alcohol addiction.
One study found that women who drink moderately have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women who do not drink. The study had a number of limitations, however, which might alter the perception of impact. Below is the alcohol content in some common alcoholic drinks, according to the CDC. Normal fasting blood sugar levels should be in the range of 70–100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). People who have untreated diabetes generally have blood sugar levels higher than 126 mg/dl.
Being tipsy has another downside, making it easy to mix up your medications or to forget to take them entirely. A 2015 meta-analysis reviewed 38 cohort studies to determine whether alcohol is a risk factor for diabetes. It found moderate consumption appeared to offer some protection against the condition in women and Asian populations, while heavy consumption raised the risk in almost all groups. Diabetes and alcohol abuse (such as binge drinking) can have long-lasting effects in some cases. For reference, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate drinking as two drinks or fewer per day for men, or one drink or fewer per day for women. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommends one drink or fewer per day for people of either gender.
Maybe their doctors cautioned them that drinking and diabetes don’t mix. Perhaps some have health conditions that are incompatible with alcohol. Or maybe they’re just concerned about all those calories—and carbs.
And it’s part of why we need background / basal insulin throughout the day. If you struggle to keep your diabetes stabilized, you may want to avoid alcoholic drinks or speak with your healthcare provider first. Consuming alcohol can worsen diabetes complications, such as retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the retina), neuropathy (nerve damage), and nephropathy (kidney damage). Regarding alcohol and diabetes, blood-sugar-reducing medications, such as insulin, increase the risk of low blood sugar, and alcohol increases the risk.
Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach
This article discusses how alcohol can impact diabetes and related conditions and offers tips for safe drinking. Food slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Be sure to eat a meal or snack containing carbohydrates if you are going to drink alcohol.
Alcohol and Carbohydrates
This can lead to comas, seizures, or, in very severe cases, death. Even for people who don’t have diabetes, drinking too much, too often, can be risky. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies define that as one drink per day or less for women and two drinks per day or less for men. The effect alcohol will have on your diabetes depends on how much you drink, what you drink, when you drink, and what your medication regimen is.
- Check glucose throughout consumption to understand whether more fast-acting carbohydrates or more insulin may be needed to balance the equation.
- People with diabetes should be particularly cautious when it comes to drinking alcohol because alcohol can make some of the complications of diabetes worse.
- Choose foods that contain carbohydrates so that you have some glucose in your system (meaning, you will be at lower risk of having low blood sugar).
- Perhaps some have health conditions that are incompatible with alcohol.
- Most people benefit from consuming a snack or meal that contains some complex carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
However, exercising, drinking alcohol, and taking blood sugar-lowering medication could cause hypoglycemia. Normally, the liver releases glucose to maintain blood sugar levels. But when you drink alcohol, the liver is busy Alcohol and Dopamine Does Alcohol Release Dopamine breaking the alcohol down, so it does a poor job of releasing glucose into the bloodstream.
Drinking can also increase the risks of a range of other diabetes-related health conditions, including serious cardiovascular and neurological issues. Find a friend who can check in regarding potential hypoglycemia. Limit your intake of alcohol to no more than one serving per day for women, and no more than two servings per day for men. These are the reasons why drinking alcohol as a person with diabetes can be very dangerous.
You may wonder if drinking alcohol is safe for people with diabetes. If you drink alcohol, there are some things you need to know first about alcohol safety. Have a snack or meal as you sip or immediately beforehand to lower the risk of hypoglycemia. Choose foods that contain carbohydrates so that you have some glucose in your system (meaning, you will be at lower risk of having low blood sugar). Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s important to count your carbs and monitor your blood sugar while drinking. Remember, hard alcohol by itself has zero carbs and will not raise your blood sugar but still can put you at risk for low blood sugar that can occur hours after hard liquor ingestion.
