What alcohol can you drink if your diabetic?

Being diabetic doesn’t mean you have to give up on alcohol. But before you grab a bottle of booze, it is important to understand what types of alcohol are safe for diabetics and which ones can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. We’re here to guide you through the liquor aisle and save you from an upsetting hangover- with some humor thrown in for good measure.

Understanding Diabetes

Before diving into our recommendations, let’s first discuss what diabetes is all about.

Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin that it makes. Insulin helps regulate glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream by moving it into cells where it can be used as energy.

Without sufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels called hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia damages various organs and tissues – this can harm your eyesight, cardiovascular health, kidneys and many more!

It’s important for anyone with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar regularly through diet, exercise regime and testing kits recommended by their healthcare provider.

Now let’s get back on track: Which alcoholic beverages are safe(-ish!) options if one has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes?

Alcoholic Drinks That Should Be Avoided

To avoid unpleasant side effects like fluctuating blood sugar levels and even coma (yikes!), we recommend steering clear of:

Sweet Cocktails

Pina Colada might seem delightful at first but remember that most cocktails consist of fruit juice or simple syrup loaded with added sugars; Add that double shot(s) poured down over crumbled ice (‘on-the-rocks‘)…and just say nope!

An indulgent margarita will spike both your drinking pleasure level AND bloog/glucose concentration beyond limit alongwith its sugary mixers such as orange liquor, mixers and sour candies (thank you science of dry mouth!). Spiking your blood sugar levels can be dangerous – as it can lead to nerve damage over time.

Dessert Wines

All sweet wines may not ruin the taste buds, but they definitely exceed sugar capacity. Late harvest wine makes a beautiful holiday gift basket offering high-density sweetness than table/ chardonnay/fruity moscatos or even that ‘bubble-licious’ champagnes.

Sipping on a glass of port before bed-time seems okay because it helps you drift off into dreamland more easily with its higher alcohol content . But ultimately extra grams of unneeded sugar in your bloodstream might just wake you up from serene slumber early morning!

Beer Lovers Beware!

Although refreshing after an exhausting day at work, beer induces hypoglycemia: low-concentration/drop in the blood-sugar level(s) 2 hours post drink (for those already diagnosed with Type 1 & 2 diabetes.) In addition to this slightly dramatic (& inconvenient!) situation; beer also has high carbohydrate count weighing in against benefit scales for people struggling to manage their insulin resistance.

Believe us when we say there are better options out there! Now let’s get down to business-

Alcoholic Drinks That Are Safe For Diabetics

You’ll be delighted to hear that some alcoholic drinks have minimal impact on your blood glucose levels and can safely be enjoyed by diabetics (with moderate intake!).

Here are common spirits preferred by diabetics:

Drink	Serving Size	Calories
Vodka	Shot	97
Gin	Shot	115
Tequila	Shot	96-100

Please muddle responsibly, do not confuse OJ/lemon juice with digestive juices in your stomach!

And if you’d rather something more indulgent :Try pairing them with a low-carb mixer like club soda or tonic water (but don’t forget the splash of freshly squeezed citrus!)

Additionally, dry wine and beer (in moderation) are considerably safer than their sugary counterparts.

But as always, monitoring blood glucose levels while consuming alcohol is important—extra vigilance can sometimes help prevent disastrous lows or highs.

Conclusion

It’s possible to indulge in even spirited drinks (within limitations!) without compromising diabetic health (YAY!). Just make wise choices when ordering out – try mixing some visually delightful yet flavorfully balanced cocktails on your own…there’s no debating that food/drink prep time has been dearly missed (still COVID-19 FTW)- so learn about wines pairings too to up those dinner party skills if nothing else!!

Don’t let diabetes hold you back from enjoying regular celebrations..just keep calm and drink( responsible-y)?