Alcohol and Diabetes
Beer, whisky, wine, liquor and liqueurs all have alcohol.
If you choose to drink alcohol, you should consider:
- How much alcohol is safe?
- When is the best time to drink?
- What will alcohol do to my blood sugar?
- Are there special things that people with diabetes need to
know?
How does alcohol affect people with diabetes?
Alcohol can lower blood sugar and can cause hypoglycemic
reactions. Alcohol can make you feel like your blood sugar is
low even when it is not. Other people may think you are drunk
and not know that your blood sugar is low.
Alcohol is high in calories. A 12 oz can of beer has 150
calories and 1 1/2 oz whisky has 110 calories.
Alcohol can increase the fats in your blood. Many people
with diabetes already have high levels of fat in their blood, and
the alcohol can make it worse.
Alcohol can cause nerve damage. Diabetes can cause nerve
damage, and alcohol can add to the damage.
Alcohol can block the way some medications work.
What are some guidelines for using alcohol?
- Drink alcohol with a meal or some starchy snack like popcorn
or pretzels. Eating food will help prevent hypoglycemia.
- Have someone around that knows you have diabetes and knows
how to treat a low blood sugar reaction.
- Choose lower calorie drinks, like light beer or dry wine.
Use sugar free beverages as mixers.
- Find out if alcohol will affect the medications you take.
- The American Diabetes Association recommends that people
with diabetes have no more than two drinks twice a week.
How can I fit alcohol into my meal plan?
Knowing the calorie level or exchange value of an alcoholic drink
can help you fit it into your meal plan. Alcohol is counted as
a fat in an exchange plan.