If you take metformin, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of a rare condition called lactic acidosis when lactic acid builds up in the bloodstream. This article discusses how alcohol can impact diabetes and related conditions and offers tips for safe drinking. If you have more than a single drink, most alcoholic drinks will tend to initially raise your blood sugar. ALWAYS consume alcohol with a meal marijuana addiction or snack that contains carbohydrates. Drinking a lot of alcohol over a long period of time can damage your liver (cirrhosis).
What to Know About Alcohol and Diabetes, According to an Expert
- But when you drink alcohol, the liver is busy breaking the alcohol down, so it does a poor job of releasing glucose into the bloodstream.
- And alcohol may reduce the effectiveness of some of your diabetes medications.
- Most importantly, if individuals wish to engage in moderate drinking, they should first discuss it with their doctor.
This can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels if you are drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. If you choose to drink alcohol with diabetes, the general guideline is no more than one drink a day for women and a maximum of two per day for men. Keep in mind, says Torres, that “one drink is equal to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits like vodka, whiskey, and gin. Watch out for craft beers, which can have twice the alcohol and calories of a light beer, according to the American Diabetes Association. If your doctor has concerns about your kidneys or liver, you may be asked to abstain from alcohol. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy, according to the U.S.
Alcohol and Diabetes Pocket Guide
Alcohol can also affect other medical conditions you may have, like diabetic nerve damage, diabetic eye disease, and high blood triglycerides. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the overall effectiveness of insulin. Many people with alcoholic liver disease also have either glucose intolerance or diabetes. diabetes and alcohol So, it’s a good idea to drink in moderation and only when your diabetes and blood sugar levels are well managed. You may want to talk to your doctor to see if drinking alcohol is safe for you and get guidelines based on your specific health concerns. Within a few minutes of drinking alcohol, and for up to 12 hours afterward, alcohol can cause your blood glucose level to drop.
Effects of Alcohol on Diabetes
But if you do drink, know that not all alcoholic beverages are created equal when it comes to diabetes. Alcohol can cause blood glucose levels to rise or fall, depending on how much you drink. Some diabetes pills (including sulfonylureas and meglitinides) also lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin. Combining the blood-sugar-lowering effects of the medication with alcohol can lead to hypoglycemia or “insulin shock,” which is a medical emergency. Alcohol can interact with diabetes medications and impact your blood sugar. If you’re living with diabetes, talk to your doctor about how alcohol may impact your condition management plan, even if you only have an occasional alcoholic beverage.
Increased risks of damage to the body if you have diabetes:
Aside from causing low blood sugar, drinking alcohol can also affect people with diabetes in several =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ other ways. This organ stabilizes glucose levels by storing carbohydrates and releasing them into the bloodstream between meals and overnight. It’s also the body’s detoxification center, breaking down toxins like alcohol so the kidneys can easily flush them away. After you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels can drop up to 24 hours later.
- The liver is the part of your body that stores glycogen (the stored form of glucose).
- Hypoglycemia, or a hypo, is when you don’t have enough glucose in your bloodstream so your BGL is dangerously low.
- For this reason, you should never drink alcohol when your blood glucose is already low.
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