Should Diabetes Consume Alcohol
Should people with diabetes drink alcohol? That is a question ask by
many diabetics. The answer is you are able to dink alcohol but in
moderation. The American Diabetes Association recommends that maximum of 2
drinks a day for man and 1 drink a day for woman. In
reality it is going to be better for you to avoid drinking alcohol so that
you are not going to have to worry about any complications that may come
about. Also, it is really not a good idea mixing alcohol with any kind of
medication. People with diabetes should consult their doctor about the use of
alcohol with the medications that they are taking.
How Alcohol Affect Diabetes?
Alcohol can make blood glucose too high or too low. Moderate amount of
alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise but excess alcohol can actually
decrease our blood sugar level even to an unsafe level. When we drink, the
alcohol goes from our stomach straight into our blood. Within 30 to 90
minutes after drinking, the alcohol in our bloodstream hit its highest
point. It takes our liver about 2 hours to break down one drink. When
there is no alcohol in our blood, our liver keeps blood sugar level from
going too low by changing stored carbohydrate into glucose, the glucose is
then release into our blood. If we drink alcohol
faster than our liver can breaks it down, the liver will be busy breaking
down alcohol and therefore will not be able to release glucose into our
blood. This cause our blood glucose continue to drop and we may end up
with very low blood sugar.
Alcohol Consumption Guidelines For Diabetes :
- Alcohol should only be used if your diabetes is under good control
and with your doctor's prescription.
- Avoid mixing alcohol with any kind of medication - alcohol can
interfere the effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
- Drink not more than 2 drinks per day.
- Do not drink when your stomach is empty in order to prevent very low
blood sugar level.
- Drink slowly to make sure that you liver have enough time to break
down the alcohol.
- Choose your drinks, select drinks that are lower in alcohol and
sugar - dry wine, light beer, or unsweetened liquor
(whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka or gin) mixed with plenty of low calorie
mixer, club soda or water are better than other alcoholics drinks.
- Stick with sugar-free mixers such as diet soda, diet tonic, club
soda or seltzer for mixed drinks.
- Always check your blood glucose after you drink to see how alcohol
affects you
- Include alcohol's calories into your daily calorie count.
Alcohol Diabetic Food Exchange Table
| Drink |
Amount |
Exchanges |
| Non-alcoholic beer |
12 fl oz |
1 starch |
| Light beer |
12 fl oz |
2 fats |
| Regular beer |
12 fl oz |
2 fats, 1
starch |
| Non-alcoholic wine |
4 fl oz |
1/2 fruit |
| Dry wine |
4 fl oz |
2 fats |
| Sweet wine |
4 fl oz |
2 fats, 1/2
starch |
| Wine cooler |
12 fl oz |
2 fats, 2
fruits |
| Liqueurs, cordials |
1.5 fl oz |
2 fats, 1
starch |
| Daiquiri |
4 fl oz |
2 fats |
| Bloody Mary |
5 fl oz |
2 fats, 1
vegetable |
| Gin, rum, vodka, whisky,
brandy |
1.5 fl oz |
2 fats |
Alcohol Nutrition Facts Table
| Drink |
Amount |
Carb.*
Grams |
Calories |
| Non-alcoholic beer |
12 fl oz |
12 |
60 |
| Light beer |
12 fl oz |
5 |
100 |
| Regular beer |
12 fl oz |
13 |
150 |
| Non-alcoholic wine |
4 fl oz |
6-7 |
25-35 |
| Dry wine |
4 fl oz |
0-2 |
80-85 |
| Sweet wine |
4 fl oz |
6-7 |
105 |
| Wine cooler |
12 fl oz |
30 |
215 |
| Liqueurs, cordials |
1.5 fl oz |
18 |
160 |
| Daiquiri |
4 fl oz |
2 |
220 |
| Bloody Mary |
5 fl oz |
5 |
115 |
| Gin, rum, vodka, whisky,
brandy |
1.5 fl oz |
0 |
100 |
|