What You Need to Know About Type 1 Diabetes and Alcohol JDRF

Alcohol has a direct effect on blood sugar levels and can make it more difficult to control diabetes. This is because alcohol contains calories, which the liver converts into glucose. If you drink too much alcohol, it can raise your blood sugar levels. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption alone can also cause nerve damage, creating a condition called alcoholic neuropathy, per StatPearls. If you already have nerve damage from diabetes, adding alcohol to the mix could make it worse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one standard drink in the United States is equal to 14 grams (g) (0.6 ounces [oz]) of pure alcohol. These may be confused with or mask the symptoms of low blood sugar. Drinking is individualized and there’s no universal rule for how to do it safely when you live with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your drinking habits and they can provide you with tips and tricks for how drink in a way that works for you. This conversation starts with simply being honest about the amount of alcohol you drink daily. Drinking less—as any healthcare professional will tell you—is better.

Test Blood Sugar When Planning to Drink

Check your blood sugar before and while you’re drinking and then again before you go to bed. For example, studies have shown that for people who have type 2 diabetes, occasionally drinking alcohol may slightly reduce glucose levels. And those with diabetes need to bring down elevated glucose levels.

More than three drinks for men can put you at risk of developing health complications. When you drink alcohol daily or consume alcohol once in a while, the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/diabetes-and-alcohol-can-diabetics-get-drunk/ outward effects are similar to low blood sugar. It can be difficult to diagnose an alcohol use disorder in someone struggling with alcohol and diabetes.

Less Predictable Blood Sugar Levels

If you believe your alcohol consumption is not problematic, slowly sipping your drink will help your body process the alcohol better and will help to prevent blood sugar levels from dropping too low. That effect has been observed in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics as well as in nondiabetics (Arky and Freinkel 1964). Hypoglycemia can have serious, even life-threatening, consequences, because adequate blood sugar levels are needed to ensure brain functioning. Alcohol is known to increase risk of developing diabetes-related complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve damage (neuropathy). People who have diabetes are usually advised not to drink at all or only consume small amounts of alcohol because it could make their condition worse or lead them to develop complications earlier than expected.

Your body processes alcohol differently than most foods and beverages. And if you have type 2 diabetes, drinking alcohol may have some benefits—such as lowering glucose levels in the blood—and some real risks, like driving glucose levels down too low. Exercise can also increase the risk of hypoglycemia when coupled with other factors, such as drinking alcohol. Doctors strongly encourage people with diabetes to engage in regular physical activity because it reduces blood sugar. However, exercising, drinking alcohol, and taking blood sugar-lowering medication could cause hypoglycemia. Different drinks vary in alcohol, carb, and sugar content and in how they affect a person’s blood sugar levels.

Diabetes & Alcohol

Each study reported a decreased risk of death resulting from coronary heart disease in association with alcohol use, and the results were statistically significant in three of the studies. When coupled with insulin injections (and other medications), excessive alcohol intake can lead to dangerously low levels of blood glucose, causing hypoglycaemia. This effect is due to the alcohol’s adverse effect upon liver function, which typically works to regulate blood sugar levels.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) unawareness occurs when someone with diabetes has a drop in blood sugar but doesn’t recognize the symptoms. Most importantly, if individuals wish to engage in moderate drinking, they should first discuss it with their doctor. Talk with your provider if you or someone you know with diabetes has an alcohol problem.

Those with alcoholism and diabetes need to know the warning signs. Genetic factors contribute to people with diabetes, but a person’s risk increases when alcoholism is added to the mix. If you or a loved one are seeking help for alcoholism or addiction and also have diabetes, please know help is available at La Hacienda.