7 Facts about Diabetes and Alcohol Use

While a glass of wine with dinner probably isn’t a big deal, a mojito on an empty stomach at happy hour is. If you are managing your diabetes with diet and exercise alone, drinking alcohol can still increase your risk of low blood sugars. And if you take insulin or types of diabetes pills that stimulate insulin production, drinking alcohol can lead to even more serious low blood sugar reactions.

The Alcohol and Diabetes Guide

And, sweet wines tend to be higher in carbohydrates than their dry counterparts. While you do need some insulin to cover those carbohydrates, your doctor may suggest reducing your usual insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio to prevent low blood sugars later in the night. In this context, we are referring to a high blood sugar as any level over 8.9 mmol/L160 mg/dL. These are the reasons why drinking alcohol as a person with diabetes can be very dangerous. Ask your doctor if you are healthy enough to drink alcohol or if you are on other medications that may not be safe to drink while taking.

This is a greater concern for people with type 1 diabetes, but those with type 2 diabetes should also consider the risk 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, even after being diabetic, you have chosen to drink, you should be aware of the type of diabetes you have, or either it raises your blood sugar level, or you see a drop. Closely pay attention to the reaction of the blood sugar level in your body.

Is My Blood Sugar Normal?

A coma is a situation where one loses his ability of senses and is seen as unconscious and more like a dead person. Diabetics, when they drink higher amounts of alcohol, can face this situation. For diabetic people, it can become a life-threatening situation. It is generally a situation where one is alive but isn’t able to see, speak, touch, move, smell, hear, respond, etc. It can also be linked with hyperglycemia as this condition is chained with hyperglycemia when drinking alcohol isn’t stopped.

This can cause a host of symptoms, from thirst and frequent urination to slow-healing wounds and disorientation. While alcohol can lower blood sugar levels, it also has the potential to increase them. Regular, long-term use of alcohol has been shown to increase insulin resistance. When these two organs don’t work well, it can make your glucose control worse. If you have diabetes, it may be best to avoid drinking alcohol.

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) unawareness occurs when someone with diabetes has a drop in blood sugar but doesn’t recognize the symptoms.
• If you’re having frequent trouble managing your blood sugar levels, you should consider if it’s safe for you to drink alcohol.
• Your healthcare provider can best determine what’s right for you.

Condition Spotlight

Before you go with an energy drink, read the label to see what’s in it. Consider switching to another beverage, like flavored seltzer or water. Energy drinks can be high in refined sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose, sodium, and caffeine. Too much refined sugar may be responsible for excess weight gain and obesity. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, join DiabetesTeam today. Here, more than 124,000 members from around the world come together to share their journeys with diabetes, ask and answer questions, and join ongoing conversations posted by other members.

Some people stop drinking alcohol after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They decide that the medical risks they run by choosing to drink outweigh any pleasure they get from drinking. Others find that drinking drastically worsens their diabetes symptoms, so they choose to avoid alcohol. However, some people find drinking a good way to relax and connect with others. They may want to learn how to drink responsibly while also managing their diabetes. Learn more about diabetes, including the types, symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Before drinking alcohol, be sure to explain the signs of low blood sugar to those with you. That will prepare them to identify hypoglycemia in case it occurs, even if you can’t. Some diabetes medicines may have negative interactions with alcohol. For example, if you’re taking metformin, a drug commonly used for type 2 diabetes, you might experience weakness, fatigue, a slowed heart rate, dark urine, and more.

Don’t use dangerous equipment, or engage in activities that require coordination, concentration, or alertness. Don’t take a hot bath, hot tub or sauna because the heat combined with the alcohol may cause your blood pressure to drop too much. Limit your intake of alcohol to no more than one serving per day for women, and no more than two servings per day for men. The Joslin Diabetes Center indicates hyperglycemia occurs with a blood sugar above 8.9 mmol/L160 mg/dL. If you have questions about your drinking or you feel like you should be drinking less because of your diabetes but you can’t stop, talk to your doctor.

High blood pressure raises your risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Whether you enjoy walking, biking, or taking a hip-hop class, you may look forward to a nice, cool beverage afterward. And with the vast selection of energy drinks that come in so many flavors and colors, you have plenty of choices. But if you live with type 2 diabetes (T2D), energy drinks may not be your healthiest option. If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s important to count your carbs and monitor your BGLs while drinking. (Remember, hard alcohol by itself has zero carbs and will Alcoholics Anonymous not raise your BGLs but still can put you at risk for hypos that can occur hours after hard liquor ingestion).