Diabetes is a condition in which your body has trouble processing food the way it should to use it as energy. When we digest food, it breaks down into sugar, or glucose, that our cells can use for energy. A small organ called the pancreas is responsible for making insulin, a hormone that gets glucose into our body’s cells. The bottom line is that any person with diabetes who wishes to consume alcohol should first discuss it with a doctor.

Drinking even small amounts of alcohol can have an impact on your blood sugar readings. Alcoholics are almost always unable to control how much they drink or pay attention to how drinking might be affecting their blood sugar or long-term health. If you are managing your diabetes with diet and exercise alone, drinking alcohol can stil increase your risk of low blood sugars. And if you take insulin or types of diabetes pills that stimulate insulin production, drinking alcohol can lead to even more serious low blood sugar reactions. Drinking alcohol while eating, or right before eating, can cause blood sugar levels to rise. Watch your blood sugar closely before and after drinking alcohol.

Medical Links

Some people who take oral diabetes medicines should talk with their provider to see if it is safe to drink alcohol. Alcohol can interfere with the effects of some diabetes medicines, putting you at risk for low blood sugar or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), depending on how much you drink and what medicine you take. The risk for low blood sugar remains for hours after you take your last drink. This is why you should only drink alcohol with food and drink only in moderation. While there are no absolute restrictions on drinking alcohol if you have pre-diabetes, heavy alcohol use does increase your weight and decrease your sensitivity to insulin. These two factors increase the likelihood that you will ultimately end up with diabetes.

Amanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society. He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.

Low Blood Sugar and Drinking Alcohol

It is produced by the fermentation of fruits, grains, or other sugar sources. Consumption of alcoholic drinks plays a major role in numerous cultures. This is a common complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels in your retina (the back part of your eye). Drinking alcohol can cause these blood vessels to leak or swell, further damaging your vision. If you are suffering from this diabetic eye disease, it is best to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. As a common complication of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness.

• Because alcohol can lower your blood glucose levels, some people with diabetes may be advised by their doctor not to drink at all.
• The average age of participants was about 56 years, slightly more than half of the adults were women and 95% were white adults.
• You can get your daily dose of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables like oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and more.
• Alcohol use is also very common, with almost 86% of Americans stating they have had alcohol at some point in the past and nearly 55% having had alcohol over the past month.
• After you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels can drop up to 24 hours later.

The risk of hypoglycemia is why experts advise people with diabetes not to drink alcohol if their blood sugar is already low. If a person chooses to drink, they should always eat at the same time and include carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables, or grains, in their meal. T1DM (insulin-dependent diabetes) results due to autoimmune progressive destruction of insulin-secreting β-cells of the pancreas by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and macrophage infiltrating the islets [19]. The hormone insulin, secreted by the pancreas, involved in regulating body’s blood glucose levels and other metabolic function.

Ways To Safely Lower Blood Sugar Levels

An advanced stage of alcoholic liver disease caused by drinking alcohol in which the liver becomes swollen and stiff, and barely functions. Commonly used in cosmetic products and as a remedy for burns, aloe vera can also be used to lower blood sugar levels. It also promotes weight loss and fat control which can be beneficial for those who are conscious of their weight and health.

The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study offers a unique opportunity to examine the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a large community-based cohort of middle-aged women and men. Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects over 15 million Americans and leads to excess risk of cardiovascular diseases and other morbidities (1–3). Aside from obesity and physical inactivity, there are few other well-established modifiable sober house risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Alcohol consumption represents a potentially important, modifiable risk factor of type 2 diabetes, especially given that more than half of the adults in the United States are current drinkers (4). It is also harmful to those with long-term problems with diabetes. People with diabetes are often more negatively impacted by alcohol since they are already at a higher risk for low blood sugar, kidney diseases and heart disease.

Although rates of tobacco use have drastically decreased in recent years, smoking remains a significant risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes as smokers face a 30% to 40% higher chance of developing the condition. Similarly, despite known adverse health effects, the prevalence of alcohol use remains high. These two lifestyle risk factors both heighten the likelihood of developing diabetes and worsen prognosis while making disease management much more challenging. Alcohol can cause your blood sugar levels to drop significantly, which can lead to loss of consciousness or blackout. Common symptoms of low blood sugar include nervousness, dizziness, sweating, hunger, and heart palpitations.