Mixing Diabetes and Alcohol

In general, alcohol and diabetes are not a good mix. There are times when it might be OK to have a drink a two, and others times when alcohol should definitely be off-limits. The key is to be aware of your blood sugar levels before you decide to indulge.

If your blood sugar is well-controlled, you can treat yourself to an occasional drink, but limit your consumption to only one drink per day for women, or two drinks per day for men (one alcoholic drink = 5 ounces of wine, 1 1/2-ounces of liquor or a 12-ounce beer).

Other important guidelines to keep in mind include:

• Be sure to eat something before you drink. Never drink on an empty stomach, as this can lower your blood sugar.
• Choose drinks low in alcohol, carbohydrates and calories (light beer or dry wine).
• Mix liquor with water or sugar-free diet soft drinks, diet tonic, club soda or seltzer. This will help keep your blood sugar levels in your target range.
• Drink slowly to make it last.
• If you are following a calorie-controlled meal plan, one drink of alcohol should be counted as two fat exchanges.
• Check your blood glucose before you drink and again before you go to bed to make sure it is within an acceptable range – between 100 and 140 mg/dL.

What effects does alcohol have on diabetes?

• Moderate amounts of alcohol can increase blood sugar levels, while too much alcohol can decrease your blood sugar level, sometimes to dangerously low levels.
• High carbohydrate drinks such as beer and sweet wine can increase blood glucose.
• Alcohol can interfere with oral diabetes medicines or insulin and decrease blood sugar levels.
• Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat and may affect your blood sugar control.
• Alcohol can increase triglyceride levels.
• Alcohol can increase blood pressure.

When is it not a good idea to drink alcohol?

• If you have diabetic neuropathy, alcohol can make it worse by increasing symptoms such as pain, burning, tingling and numbness.
• Having 3 or more drinks per day can exacerbate diabetic eye diseases such as retinopathy and macular edema.
• Because alcohol can increase blood pressure, you should not drink if you have high blood pressure.
• Because even small amounts of alcohol prompt the liver to make more triglycerides, you should not drink if you have high triglyceride levels.

Remember, if you have any questions or doubts about whether it is safe for you to drink alcohol, check with your doctor.