Being diabetic does not mean you have to give up trying to live a normal life. Considering today’s culture, drinking alcohol is often part of a normal life. However, before you pick up that drink, you should be aware of the impact alcohol can have on your diabetes–and modify your drinking habits accordingly.
Alcohol causes your blood sugar to rise
Although alcohol itself is not a carbohydrate, many alcoholic drinks contain plenty of carbohydrates, especially those made with fruit juice, liqueurs or port wine. All those drinks can quickly get broken down to glucose in your body, resulting in a spike in blood sugar levels.
Tip #1: Avoid sweet wines or mixed drinks made with regular soda or juices. Use calorie-free and sugar-free beverages like club soda, sugar-free tonic or water as mixers stead.
Alcohol causes your blood sugar to drop
As contradictory as it seems, alcohol can cause your blood sugar to spike or to drop. If you’re taking insulin or certain oral diabetic medications such as sulfonylureas (glipizide, glimepiride) and meglitinide (Prandin), there is a high risk that you could get hypoglycemia (blood pressure below 70 mg/dL).
Here’s why: once alcohol enters your body, your liver is so busy working to remove the alcohol from your bloodstream that it cannot produce glucose. Since the alcohol breakdown process takes time, hypoglycemia can still occur 24 hours after the last drink.
Tips #2: Always have a fast-acting source of sugar near you.
Tip #3: Monitor your blood glucose levels at bedtime.
Alcohol can cause weight gain
Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat (and consequently affect your blood sugar control). Alcohol also has a lot of calories–even two light beers can add 200 calories–and little nutritional value. Thus, alcohol can lead to weight gain from the calories it provides and by causing you to eat more calories after consuming the alcohol. Since most diabetes are trying to lose weight, this effect isn’t good.
Tip #4: Have a no-calorie beverage before you drink alcohol to quench your thirst, which can keep you from drinking too much.
Tip #5: Drink slowly.
Alcohol Intoxication is similar to symptoms of hypoglycemia
Both cause drowsiness, slurred speech, dizziness, and disorientation. If you have hypoglycemia and people assume it’s alcohol intoxication, you will not receive the proper assistance and treatment.
Tip #6: Always wear a medical identification bracelet.