People with metabolic syndrome or other cardiac risk factors should be cautious about consuming erythritol. The sweetener has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. During it, small sugar molecules are chemically broken down by bacteria or fungi until a new molecular compound is formed.
People with diabetes who plan on drinking alcohol should check their blood sugar levels before and up to 24 hours after drinking. They should also check these levels at bedtime to ensure that they are stable before sleeping. The relationship between type 2 diabetes and alcohol is complex. While moderate alcohol consumption lowers blood sugar, heavy consumption is harmful to diabetes and other aspects of health. If you’re having frequent trouble managing your blood sugar levels, you should consider if it’s safe for you to drink alcohol. Your liver takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to process each alcoholic drink, and during that time, you may be at risk of low blood sugar.
Can people with diabetes drink alcohol?
Excessive or binge drinking is defined as having more than five alcoholic beverages in a two-hour time span for men, or four for women. Some alcoholic drinks are worse than others when you have type 2 diabetes. Certain types of alcohol are especially high in carbs and sugar, even if you drink them straight. The increase in blood sugar levels gives way to hyperglycemia, or too-high blood sugar. This can cause a host of symptoms, from thirst and frequent urination to slow-healing wounds and disorientation. If you have diabetes, you may wonder if you should drink alcohol.
Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol?
- In 2021, 537 million people had T2D, which is projected to reach 783 million by 2045.
- If someone with diabetes has consumed a lot of alcohol, it’s also possible that they can miss the signs of hypoglycemia.
- This sugar substitute contains fewer calories than traditional sugar and is less likely to cause your blood glucose levels to spike.
- Below is the alcohol content in some common alcoholic drinks, according to the CDC.
- If you are intoxicated, you may not hear your CGM alarms or feel the usual symptoms of low blood sugar.
- The important thing to understand, though, is that this presumed benefit is just a theory.
With all of this in mind, the risks of drinking alcohol when you have type 2 diabetes may outweigh any benefits. It’s important to keep your personal health top-of-mind, right along with the advice of your healthcare provider. This means drinking can make it even harder for people with type 2 diabetes—which is defined by elevated glucose levels—to manage their blood sugar. At this point, alcohol can affect blood sugar in ways that are especially important for people with type 2 diabetes. This is because the liver is where excess glucose is stored in a form called glycogen.
So, if you have 2 drinks, you double that time to 2 to 3 hours that you are at risk for low blood sugar. The more alcohol consumed, the bigger the risk for serious low blood sugar. After you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels can drop up to 24 hours later. Check your blood sugar before and while you’re drinking and solution focused worksheets then again before you go to bed.
Your “drinking with diabetes” checklist
While sugar alcohol may be a better option for people living with diabetes, remember that the ingredient is still a carbohydrate. While it doesn’t require much insulin to be metabolized, it may still impact your blood sugar levels. Sugar alcohols are naturally found sweeteners derived from plants like fruits and vegetables. This sugar substitute contains fewer calories than traditional sugar and is less likely to cause your blood glucose levels to spike. As a result, sugar alcohols, like Sorbitol and Xylitol,have become more popular in many commercially available foods. The problem is that the liver cannot perform both functions at the same time.
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This is why it’s especially important for your friends and family to know the risks of drinking alcohol with diabetes and the signs of low blood sugar. Your liver is releasing this stored glucose every day and night to give your brain and body the fuel it needs to function. The same stored glucose contributes to high blood sugars levels during the “dawn phenomenon” in the morning, too. And it’s part of why we need background / basal insulin throughout the day. If you struggle to keep your diabetes stabilized, you may want to avoid alcoholic drinks or speak with your healthcare provider first.
Or maybe they’re just concerned about all those calories—and carbs. The ADA does not forbid a person with diabetes from consuming alcohol, but they do not advise it either. If someone with diabetes chooses to drink alcohol, the ADA recommends limiting consumption to a moderate intake. This translates to one drink per day for females and up to two per day for males. The liver not only metabolizes alcohol, but it also stores glucose, which can be released when hypoglycemia occurs. However, alcohol may impair the release of stored glucose, thereby potentially creating lows for an extended period of time.
If a person chooses to drink, they should always eat at the same time and include carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables, or grains, in their meal. If you have diabetes, you may wonder if it’s safe to drink alcohol. While many people with diabetes can drink alcohol in moderation, it’s important to understand the possible risks of alcohol use and what you can do to lower them. Alcohol can interfere with how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). You should also talk with your health care provider to see if it is safe for you to drink. It addresses some of the risks as well as some of the benefits of drinking alcohol when you have type 2 diabetes.
This glucose is released into the bloodstream to bring levels up to normal. This is especially true if you’re taking insulin or other diabetes medications that can cause low blood sugars. The effect alcohol will have on your diabetes depends on how much you drink, what you drink, when you drink, and what your medication regimen is. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about how alcohol impacts diabetes. Most diabetes medications work to lower your blood sugar (glucose) levels — and they’re particularly good at the job.