Alcohol and Diabetes: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
A 2015 meta-analysis reviewed 38 cohort studies to determine whether alcohol is a risk factor for diabetes. However, according to American Diabetes Association (ADA), heavy consumption and zero consumption increase the risk. The ADA also states that a drink or two may improve insulin sensitivity and sugar management. Overall, alcohol consumption leads to less predictable blood sugar levels, and this can be a risk.
Alcohol and Carbohydrates
Depending on your health condition, that may mean no alcohol at all. In some cases, women with diabetes may have no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. 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.
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When consumed with food, an occasional drink is OK, and if you choose wisely, it may have some positive effects on health. If you drink, do it occasionally and only when your diabetes and blood sugar level are well-controlled. If you are following a calorie-controlled meal plan, one drink of alcohol should be counted as two fat exchanges. Some alcoholic drinks are worse than others when you have type 2 diabetes.
Alcohol consumption guidelines
People with diabetes can carry glucose tabs in case of an emergency, and they should check their blood sugar levels regularly. They should also remember that some diabetes medications may not work if they consume too much alcohol. For many people, the occasional glass of alcohol does not pose a problem. However, for people with diabetes, alcohol consumption can affect blood sugar levels.
The same goes for cream liqueurs such as Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlua. These provide around 13 grams of carbs, of which 12 grams are from sugar, for every 2 ounces (60 grams) of liqueur (37). Dessert wines, such as vermouth, port, and sherry, are also high in carbs. As the name of these drinks implies, people typically serve them after a meal (36). Avoid mixing liquor with sugary juices or sugar-containing soda. If you do drink these with alcohol, your blood sugar may spike and then dip to dangerously low levels.
If you struggle to keep your diabetes stabilized, you may want to avoid alcoholic drinks or speak with your healthcare provider first. When you have alcohol, it may take some time to figure out the foods that work best for you. The number of carbohydrates needed to prevent highs and lows depends on your blood sugar level when you start drinking, your meal plan, and your medication. However, the organization recommends that females with diabetes limit their consumption to one drink per day and males limit their consumption to two drinks per day.
A daily cocktail or two may improve blood glucose (blood sugar) management and insulin sensitivity. If you have one or more drinks a day, you may find that your A1C is lower than during times you weren’t drinking. But if you don’t drink regularly, this doesn’t mean you should start. After all, other aspects of moderate drinkers’ lives may be behind the link.
Benefits of Alcohol in Type 2 Diabetes
The below information can help someone adhere to the one-drink-per-day limit for females and the two-drinks-per-day limit for males. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020, 34.2 million people in the United States had diabetes in 2018. The percentage of the population with diabetes increases according to age, reaching 26.8% in adults aged 65 and older. If you’d rather have a flavored version, go for flavored sparkling water instead of flavored what are whippets vodka, which may contain added syrups.
- However, excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), liver disease, and more.
- In fact, some evidence shows that many people with type 2 diabetes can safely enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages, and it may even bring about some benefits.
- Alcohol intoxication mimics signs of low blood sugar, such as dizziness, blurred vision, and fatigue.
- This article lists 10 types of alcohol that are most appropriate for people with diabetes, based on carb content, as well as a few drink types to avoid.
- For this reason, you should never drink alcohol when your blood glucose is already low.
- Those on the opposite ends of the spectrum—people that drink heavily and those that don’t—have a greater risk.
With all the focus on carbs, it’s easy to forget that alcohol also has calories. Given that drinking can make you lose track of what you’re eating, calories (and pounds) can add up quickly. Being tipsy has another downside, making it easy to mix up your medications or to forget to take them entirely.
Even for people who don’t mixing suboxone with alcohol 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. 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). With all of this in mind, the risks of drinking alcohol when you have type 2 diabetes may outweigh any benefits. It’s important to keep your personal health top-of-mind, right along with the advice of your healthcare provider.
Take a look at the numbers and you’ll find that only moderate drinkers have less cardiovascular disease. Those on the opposite ends of the spectrum—people that drink heavily and those that don’t—have a greater risk. Some medications are not suitable for use alongside alcohol consumption. People with diabetes should be sure to pay attention to any potential warnings. Most people benefit from consuming a snack or meal that contains some complex carbohydrates, protein, and fat. For example, if you have a glass of alcohol with dinner, choose roasted chicken, baked sweet potato, and sautéed spinach.
That said, when it comes to alcohol, people with blood sugar problems should always remain cautious. 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.
This makes it a good choice for people with diabetes — provided you drink it in moderation (25). This article lists 10 types of alcohol that are most appropriate for people with diabetes, based on carb content, as well as a few drink types to avoid. Understanding what one is consuming and how alcohol influences blood sugar levels is particularly important for people with diabetes.
Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the stomach or the small intestine, and it’s then carried through the body and delivered to the liver. While the liver metabolizes alcohol, it cannot convert stored glycogen into the glucose needed to stabilize blood sugar levels. Studies show drinking moderately (about one drink per day) may improve heart health and decrease the risk of diabetes. However, some signs you were roofied studies don’t account for frequency, the population being studied, and the types of beverages consumed. However, excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), liver disease, and more.