Alcohol and Diabetes
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Alcohol and diabetes, diabetes and alcohol. Are people with diabetes allowed to accompany their meal with one, two or more drinks or not? Especially now in the summer, there are many more opportunities to go out, so before you have another drink, let's read what you should pay attention to!
Don't forget that alcohol and driving never go together for any of us. Alcohol is not prohibited if you suffer from diabetes. However, each body reacts differently to the amount of alcohol consumed, so you should always consult your diabetologist and check your glucose levels frequently, to drink in a controlled and safe manner.
According to the recommendations of doctors that apply to all of us, women should not consume more than one drink per day, while for men the daily limit is two drinks per day. (One drink is equivalent to 350 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine, 44 ml of "hard" drinks (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc.) of spirits and contains 15 grams of alcohol)
Moderate alcohol consumption can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. However, excessive alcohol consumption can have the opposite effect – sometimes blood glucose levels can drop dangerously low, especially for people with type 1 diabetes.
Consumption should be done with caution, whether it is type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as alcohol provides "empty" calories (7 calories / g), without providing nutrients at the same time. Usually the drink is accompanied by nuts, which increase calorie intake even more. Therefore, even if you have the consent of your doctor, for the consumption of alcoholic beverages, if you wish to lose weight, it would be advisable to avoid it. Do not neglect - if you drink - to calculate the calories and fat equivalents of alcohol in your daily diet.
What happens to your body when you drink.
✓ Blood pressure and heart rate may increase.
✓ It stimulates the appetite and consequently leads to overeating.
✓ Alcohol can worsen neuropathy (nerve damage).
✓ It dehydrates your body and prevents you from sleeping properly.
✓ It can also lead to certain forms of cancer and heart disease.
✓ Alcohol intake can affect fertility in men and women and should be avoided during pregnancy.
What drink to choose?
There is no “best” alcoholic beverage for people with diabetes. If you do eventually succumb to the temptation to drink, choose those with the fewest calories (wine, beer).
✓ Dry wine (white or red), dry sparkling wine, tsipouro and drinks like whiskey or vodka with soda or lemon juice are definitely the safest choices. These drinks contain fewer carbohydrates, but more alcohol than liqueurs. Avoid low-alcohol wines – they often have more sugar than regular wines.
✓ Avoid cocktails, sweet wines and liqueurs. If you do consume them, dilute them with water, soda or sugar-free soft drinks. These drinks combine alcohol, carbohydrates and sugar, which can disrupt glucose values.
✓ Cold beer, especially in the summer months, is one of our most frequent choices. However, special care is required when consuming it. Beer contains carbohydrates in the form of maltose (malt sugar), which can affect glucose levels. Beers with 0% alcohol have almost no alcohol, but they contain a large amount of maltose, which causes an immediate increase in glucose. A good choice for people with diabetes is beer with reduced carbohydrates. “Light” beer contains less sugar and alcohol. Avoid beers with low sugar content, which are sometimes called diabetic drinks. They may have less sugar, but contain more alcohol.
Alcohol and hypoglycemia.
As alcohol can lower blood sugar, there is a risk of hypoglycemia. Therefore, when you drink or plan to drink alcoholic beverages, you should measure your blood sugar before, during and after drinking. Caution is needed, as many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia - which can occur even 24 hours after drinking the drink - are similar to those of intoxication, as you may feel sleepy, unsteady when walking and confused. Physical exercise, such as dancing, also contributes to lowering blood glucose.
Why can hypoglycemia occur with drinking? An important role of the liver is to remove toxic substances from the body. When you drink alcohol, your liver perceives it as a "poison" and does its best to remove it. This reduces its ability to produce glucose, which can affect your blood sugar levels and lead to hypoglycemia. This is especially important if you take insulin or medications that increase insulin production.
How can you prevent or avoid hypoglycemia?
✓ do not drink on an empty stomach.
✓ limit the amount of alcohol you consume.
✓ drink alcohol slowly and in combination with the consumption of carbohydrates (e.g. potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, crackers).
✓ monitor your blood sugar levels regularly while you are out drinking.
✓ Take immediate action to raise your blood sugar levels when symptoms of hypoglycemia begin. If your blood sugar test is between 55 and 69 mg/dL, it is recommended that you take 15 grams of carbohydrates and then recheck your blood sugar levels 15 minutes later until your blood sugar levels return to normal. If necessary
you can eat a nutritious meal or snack to prevent levels from dropping back to low levels.
Alcohol and hyperglycemia.
It is very possible that in addition to hypoglycemia, drinking alcohol can lead to high glucose levels. This is due to the fact that the drink you consumed may contain, in addition to alcohol, carbohydrates. Therefore, if you are on insulin treatment, you should also calculate the carbohydrates in the drink you will consume in the dose of insulin you will take. Under no circumstances replace your meal with alcohol, simply calculate additional insulin for the drink you consumed.
After the drink.
Measure your blood glucose levels before bed. If these levels are below 100mg/dl, eat a snack such as 1 slice of rye toast and 30g of low-fat cheese.
The next morning.
If you end up having too much to drink, drinking water before going to bed will help you hydrate and may also help prevent a hangover in the morning.
A good breakfast – will help manage glucose levels to normal levels.
So drink to your health with caution and wisdom! Love yourself and always follow your doctor's instructions!
Article sources:
www.diabetesde.org
www.diabetes-deutschland.de
Hellenic Diabetes Society
https://www.healthline.com
https://www.iatropedia.gr