Drinking alcohol in moderation can cause blood sugar levels to rise, and excess amounts can decrease blood sugar levels. With such varied effects, individuals with diabetes should use caution when drinking or avoid it altogether.
Diabetics who want to drink alcohol should consult with their doctors, and monitor their blood sugar
levels carefully, WebMD reported. Such caution is necessary because drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar "to drop into dangerous levels," the website said.
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Diabetics often follow meal plans under the guidance of doctors or dietitians. This and regular physical activity helps to control blood sugar levels. Some diabetics have no problem drinking occasional alcohol with a well-controlled meal plan.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics consider several issues before drinking alcohol, including whether their blood glucose levels are under control, the advice of their healthcare practitioners, and how the alcohol will affect carbohydrate counting food plans. The organization said diabetics shouldn't t omit food from their meals plans and replace the carb counts with alcohol.
"When you drink an alcoholic beverage, the alcohol moves quickly into the bloodstream without being metabolized in
your stomach," the Mayo Clinic reported."Within five minutes of having a drink, there's enough alcohol in your bloodstream to measure. ...If you're on insulin, or certain oral diabetes medications, such as a sulfonylurea (glipizide, glyburide) or meglitinide (Prandin) that stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, drinking alcohol can cause a dangerous low blood sugar because your liver has to work to remove the alcohol from your blood instead of its main job to regulate your blood sugar."
Alcohol stimulates the appetite, so diabetics might be tempted to overeat, WebMD said. Weight gain and obesity are risk factors in the development of diabetes and also have a negative impact on controlling the disorder.
Diabetics who drink according to a doctor’s recommendations and their diet plan should have no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women, according to WebMD. They should drink alcohol with food and drink slowly. Avoiding sweet wines, sugary mixed drinks, or cordials helps to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
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