Alcohol and diabetes: Effects, blood sugar levels, and guidelines

This alcohol-induced hypoglycemia may have a delayed effect, hitting you after you’ve stopped drinking, possibly after you’ve fallen asleep, or even during the next day. It is also important to mention that due to the growing popularity of craft beers, the alcohol content of some beers is now higher than 5%. Beverages such as beer and wine can have an alcohol content of 2–20%. Most importantly, if individuals wish to engage in moderate drinking, they should first discuss it with their doctor.

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Read more here about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It means you shouldn’t drink more than six medium glasses of wine or six pints of lager a week. Sweet drinks like margaritas and mojitos don’t have to be off-limits. Use sugar-free mixers for margaritas and fresh fruit for daiquiris. And instead of pouring simple syrup into mojitos and martinis, try a natural sweetener like stevia or a sugar substitute.

Always test blood sugar before having an alcoholic beverage

• This way, if an emergency arises, medical personnel (who are trained to look for IDs) will know you have diabetes.
• Diabetes and alcohol abuse (such as binge drinking) can have long-lasting effects in some cases.
• The liver not only metabolizes alcohol, but it also stores glucose, which can be released when hypoglycemia occurs.
• So yes, you can still drink, but you need to be aware of how it can affect your body and how to manage this.
• The increase in blood sugar levels gives way to hyperglycemia, or too-high blood sugar.

Especially test blood sugar before bed to see if it’s under 100. Drinking alcohol can be an especially dangerous activity for people with diabetes — here’s why. Talk with your provider if you or someone you know can diabetics get drunk with diabetes has an alcohol problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one standard drink in the United States is equal to 14 grams (g) (0.6 ounces [oz]) of pure alcohol.

• Monitor glucose frequently, have fast-acting carbohydrate available, and always have glucagon available for an emergency.
• These include all of the insulins and pills in the sulfonylurea category and in the glinide category.
• Alcoholic drinks can cause both blood sugar rises and blood sugar drops, making it important to think cautiously and plan ahead.
• In most cases, people with type 2 diabetes can drink alcohol in moderate amounts.
• Your healthcare provider will tell you how much alcohol is safe for you to drink.
• Self assessment quizzes are available for topics covered in this website.

Top Tips for Drinking Alcohol with Diabetes

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. “You need to know if your medications or any diabetes-related conditions you have could be seriously affected by alcohol consumption,” emphasizes Harris. If your glucose drops to less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you’ll need to down 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. This could be three or four glucose tablets, 4 ounces of juice (a small juice box), or five pieces of hard candy (and not chocolate).

• A couple of recent research studies have shown that adults with diabetes might see a slight improvement in their insulin sensitivity with moderate alcohol consumption.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one standard drink in the United States is equal to 14 grams (g) (0.6 ounces [oz]) of pure alcohol.
• This may happen because your liver can’t maintain basal blood sugar levels while also metabolizing alcohol.
• Also, alcohol is the only nutrient that doesn’t require insulin to be broken down for energy—carbohydrate, protein, and fat do.

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Dr. Pinsker is board certified in Clinical Informatics, Pediatric Endocrinology, and General Pediatrics. You can read about many of his studies on his Google Scholar page. Monitor glucose frequently, have fast-acting carbohydrate available, and always have glucagon available for an emergency.

Tips for healthier drinking with diabetes

Other health risks

• This is understandable if you want to continue to enjoy alcohol as part of your lifestyle.
• The potential for late-onset hypoglycemia in PWDs who take insulin happens a number of hours after consuming alcohol.
• Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
• They show the amount of carbs and sugar in different alcoholic beverages.
• Normal fasting blood sugar levels should be in the range of 70–100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).

Things to Keep in Mind If You Choose to Drink