Is alcohol harmful for diabetes?

Ah, alcohol. It’s the magical elixir that can make any night go from meh to amazing in a matter of sips. But if you have diabetes, your relationship with booze may be more complicated than most. So let’s take a dive into whether or not alcohol is harmful for those living with diabetes.

The Effects of Alcohol on Blood Sugar Levels

First things first: how does alcohol affect blood sugar levels? Well, it depends on what type of drink you’re imbibing. Cocktails and beer are often high in carbs and sugars that will spike blood sugar levels quickly while liquor tends to have little to no carbs and their impact on blood glucose levels is minimal(1).

If you choose to indulge in alcohol, it’s important that you don’t forget about monitoring your blood sugar(2). If your blood glucose level drops below 70 mg/dL due to drinking alcohol, make sure that you consume something easily digestible such as fruit juice or soda so as increase the low-sugar contents in body system(3) .

You could also use apps such as Glucose Buddy or MySugr app which will help maintain accurate documentation related how much carbohydrates and sugars being consumed on top of helping manage insulin levl through carbohydrate counting4.

Moderation is Key

We all know moderation is key when it comes to enjoying life’s indulgences – whether eating pizza or drinking wine – especially if one has diabetes because excessive intake can trigger negative implications (5).

Aim for no more than one drink per day(6) but remember smaller drinks like shots (equivalent servings) are better choices than sweetened mixers / juices (7) .

To Drink Or Not Drink?

The answer lies within reason – Yes! but watch closely how many units are being consumed each day, always drink in moderation (and eat a carbohydrate-rich snack to avoid low blood sugar) (8).

Consuming more than one drink or two drinks for men and women respectively ) may also increase weight gain (as alcohol is high in calories), an already commonly recurring issue among the diabetic community. So proceed with caution!

The List of Best/Worst Drinks for Diabetes

Choosing what kind of alcohol to consume depends on various factors, like how much you have consumed throughout the week (9). Here are some categories that can guide your selection:

Best Types Of Alcohol

  • Light beer
  • Wine (red / white)
  • Spirits (Vodka / Tequila) – these if taken with a non-carbohydrate mixer

However we wish to remind our readers that since people with diabetes release or break down insulin slower compared to their non-diabetic counterparts, staying from hard liquors rich mixers is usually recommended(10).

Staying Away From Mixed Drink Bar Menus

Mixed fruity/spiked cocktails are often laden with sweetened fruit juice which raises blood sugars & increases calorie count .

Here are some examples:

 Margarita – This contains lime-flavored sugar syrup.

 Daiquiri – Usually made up of fruits and sugary syrups.

 Pina Colada – Contains coconut cream along with other juices.

If opting for mixed drinks, spare yourself from extra sugar by choosing diet beverages as mixers whenever possible(11).

Table 1: Comparative table between best vs worst alcoholic drinks

Type Sugar Content Calorie Count/12 oz
Rum Mixed 252kcal
Tequila null 96 kcal
Whiskey/null 97 kcal
Gin/Martini/null 157 kcal

Or when given choice between drinking:

  • Red wine is a better alternative than white as it contains antioxidants (12).

The Worst Types of Alcohol

  • Pre-made mixers (Margarita or Stoli Blueberi)
  • Regular beer
  • Hard ciders/sodas

Beware – these all have high sugar and carb contents, & may lead to significant spikes in blood glucose levels. So, what are you waiting for? more rounds?

To Sum Up

Amidst the concerns building up about alcohol consumption by diabetic people there seems to be some level of assuaging involved : depending how much one drinks and choice of drinks incorporated – consuming alcohol could give way too positive effects like lower risk of heart disease , increase in good HDL cholesterol plus doesn’t cause any damage to those already suffering from Type 1/2 diabetes (13). But still it’s important that if you choose to indulge keep moderation forefront when raising your glass.

References:

(1) Diabetes.org. Drink Yourself Healthier. American Diabetes Association https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition/healthy-food-choices-made-easy/drink-yourself-healthier (2) MySugr . Drinking with diabetes – why mindful drinking also applies here! https://mysugr.com/drinking-with-diabetes 3 Diaryofadiabetic.wordpress.com Drinking And Hypoglycemia : What You Need To Know https://diaryofadiabetic.wordpress.com/2017/01/
(4) Verywellhealth . Best Apps for Managing Diabetes https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-apps-for-managing-diabetes-1087639 (5), (6) MedicineNet Is There A Safe Way To Drink Alcohol With Type 2 ? Consumer Reports Health http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2008/06/is-there-a-safe-way-to-drink-alcohol-with-type-2-diabetes/index.htm (7) Health.com 10 Diet-Friendly Booze Choices https://www.health.com/nutrition/low-calorie-alcohol
(8) Everydayhealth Drinking Alcohol With Diabetes: What To Know Before You Consult Your Doctor https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/lifestyle/drinking-alcohol-with-diabetes-how-much-is-okay/
(9) Journal of Advanced Nursing Do people with diabetes need to abstain from alcohol? A study of attitudes and beliefs T Greenaway, D C Hughes – Journal of advanced nursing,2010,66(10),2286-2298 (10) The Huffington Post What People With Diabetes Need To Know About moderate drinking. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sarah-guest/diabetes-and-alcohol-it-c_b_11728862.html ((11),(12)) RealSimple Pub Crawl! How to Drink Beer without the Belly-full-of-Hops effect https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/drinks/alcohol-sugar-table (13) MedicalNewsToday Can I Drink While On Metformin?[Online Article] Yangyang R Yuan . [[Accessed 28 Jul.2021]] Available From:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-i-drink-while-on-metformin

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