Diabetes And Alcohol

If you have diabetes, what you eat and drink matters, and that includes alcohol. Whether it’s a glass of wine with dinner or a cold beer at a celebration, it’s important to understand how alcohol affects your blood sugar and overall health.

Key Takeaways: Alcohol & Diabetes

• Moderation is essential when drinking alcohol with diabetes. Light drinking may be safe for some individuals with well-controlled diabetes, but excessive alcohol can disrupt blood sugar levels and increase health risks.
• Alcohol can cause both high and low blood sugar. It may lower blood sugar by interfering with liver function or raise it due to added sugars and carbs—especially in beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
• Safer drink choices include light beer, dry wine, and spirits with low-sugar mixers. Avoid sugary cocktails and high-carb beverages to help maintain stable blood sugar.
• Some people with diabetes should avoid alcohol entirely. Conditions like neuropathy, pancreatitis, high triglycerides or liver disease make alcohol especially risky. Always consult your doctor about alcohol use.

Can People With Diabetes Drink Alcohol?

The short answer: sometimes. If your diabetes is well-controlled and you don’t have other health complications, a small amount of alcohol is usually safe. In fact, the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that light drinking might actually help you control your blood sugar, at least in the short term while possibly lowering your risk for heart disease.

The keyword, though, is moderation. Drinking too much alcohol can make your blood sugars harder to manage and increase your risk for serious complications. If you don’t drink, it’s best not to start, the potential benefits don’t outweigh the risks.

The American Diabetes Association recommends:

• Up to one drink per day for women
• Up to two drinks per day for men

Even small amounts of alcohol can have effects, so be cautious and check with your doctor if you have diabetes.

How Alcohol Affects Blood Sugar

Alcohol can have unpredictable effects on blood sugar levels. Here’s why:

• It can lower blood sugar. Alcohol prevents your liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream. If you haven’t eaten recently or exercised, this can lead to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
• It can interact with diabetes medications. If you take insulin or certain oral diabetes medications, alcohol may amplify their effects, causing your blood sugar to drop too far.
• It adds extra calories and sugar. Beer, wine and cocktails can be high in carbs and calories, which can raise blood sugar levels and make it harder to maintain a healthy weight.

If you drink alcohol, make sure you drink while having food, never on an empty stomach. And check your blood sugar before and after drinking so you know how your body responds.

Safer Drink Choices For Diabetics

If you choose to drink, opt for lower-calorie, lower-sugar options:

• Light beer
• Dry wine (red or white)
• Spirits mixed with soda water, diet soda or plain water

Try to avoid sugary cocktails, sweet wines and high-carb mixers like regular soda, juice, or energy drinks.

When To Avoid Alcohol

Some people with diabetes should steer clear of alcohol entirely. You should avoid drinking if you have:

• Severe nerve damage (neuropathy) — alcohol can worsen pain, numbness, and tingling.
• Pancreatitis — alcohol can trigger inflammation.
• High triglycerides — alcohol raises triglyceride levels even more.
• Liver disease or a history of alcohol abuse.

If you’re unsure whether it’s safe for you to drink, check with your doctor first.

The Long-Term Impact

Some studies suggest that light drinking may help raise “good” HDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease for people with diabetes. However, heavy drinking has the opposite effect, raising blood pressure, damaging the liver and increasing the risk of nerve and heart problems.

Too much alcohol can also interfere with your diabetes management. It’s harder to eat well, exercise, take medications or monitor your blood sugar when you’re drinking heavily or recovering from it.

So remember, it’s all about being mindful and using good judgement. If you’re used to enjoying a glass of wine with dinner, moderate alcohol isn’t likely to be harmful but if you don’t drink it’s better to keep it that way.