Caution is needed when drinking alcohol in patients with diabetes. Drinking alcohol while taking glucose-lowering medications may cause hypoglycemia.
Excessive alcohol consumption can affect the body’s ability to sense and regulate hypoglycemia. When drinking alcohol, people may feel dizzy at first, and as alcohol intake increases, they may feel drowsy, which is similar to the symptoms of hypoglycemia and may be difficult to distinguish, so it is necessary to wear a medical alert sign to let others know they have diabetes.
Chronic alcohol consumption can impair liver function and lead to cirrhosis. When cirrhosis occurs, the body’s ability to regulate itself in response to low blood sugar is reduced. If a person with diabetes has well-controlled blood sugar and no other medical conditions, occasional light drinking is not a big problem. Understanding how alcohol affects the body can help make the right choices.
What is a safe amount of alcohol to drink?
Check with your doctor or other diabetes specialist for a reasonable amount of alcohol to drink. Be sure to clarify whether it is safe to drink alcohol while taking glucose-lowering medications.
If you drink alcohol, please be aware of the following:
- Glucose should be measured before drinking. Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia 24 hours after drinking, so it needs to be measured continuously. Eating helps to raise blood glucose, but may also cause elevated blood glucose in some people. Alcohol should not be consumed if blood glucose cannot be controlled within the target range.
- Women should not drink alcohol more than once a day and should drink with a meal. Men should not drink alcohol more than twice a day. The specific criteria are.
- One 355 ml (12 oz) bottle of beer or fruit wine drink;
- One 148 ml (5 oz) glass of wine;
- A mixed drink containing 44 ml (1.5 oz) of a 40% alcoholic spirit (such as gin, whisky or rum).
- Choose the right alcoholic beverage. Mix spirits with unsweetened mixed drinks such as water, tonic water or soda. Choose a drink with a low alcohol content, such as light beer or dry wine. They can also be diluted with soda water. It is important to note that most alcoholic beverages are high in calories.
- Measure your blood sugar at night before you go to bed. Snacking appropriately can help stabilize blood sugar at night.
In addition, it is important to note:
- Do not drink alcohol after physical activity. Exercise itself can lower blood sugar.
- Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Drink alcohol only with a meal or with a snack. Drinking 2 glasses of alcohol on an empty stomach can cause hypoglycemia.
Do not drink alcohol if:
- People who only notice they are hypoglycemic when their blood sugar is extremely low should not drink alcohol;
- Drinking alcohol is not recommended for people who have nerve damage. Drinking alcohol can worsen the condition and worsen symptoms such as pain and numbness.