Diabetes and Alcohol: Know Your Limits
A Health Care Article Contributed by Dina
Diabetes and Alcohol: Know Your Limits
If you suffer from diabetes, you simply cannot process alcohol the same way as someone without diabetes. This can be difficult, if you are at a bar or restaurant with family and friends, and you are the only diabetic.
People with diabetes can drink alcoholic beverages, but must take special care in so doing. Drinking in moderation is important, as is understanding the effect alcohol has on a diabetic's body.
For the following, bear in mind that one alcoholic drink is one 12 ounce beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, or 1 oz. of 100 proof liquor.
Alcohol and Diabetes: Your Body's Reaction
Alcohol lowers your blood sugar, and why this may seem beneficial to those whose diabetes tends to spike their blood sugar, alcohol can actually cause a dangerous crash in blood sugar. When your blood sugar is too low, it results in a condition known as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia can manifest in a number of unpleasant symptoms, including loss of consciousness. The symptoms of intoxication and hypoglycemia are similar, so you must be careful to know when you are drunk or when your blood sugar is dangerously low. Check your blood sugar often and limit your alcohol intake.
For those on diabetes medications, the effect of alcohol on blood sugar can be more dramatic, because many diabetes medicines decrease blood sugar levels. This includes insulin.
Because alcohol can cause blood sugar complications diabetics should only drink alcoholic beverages when their diabetes is completely under control. Check your blood sugar before drinking. Do not drink alcohol if your blood sugar is too low or too high.
Alcohol Tips for Those with Diabetes
Because the blood sugar of those with diabetes is unstable already, diabetic men are advised to drink no more than two alcoholic beverages per day and diabetic women no more than one drink per day. (Pregnant women should never consume alcohol, whether they have diabetes, or not.)
Because food will help to absorb the alcohol and minimize its impact, eat a snack or a meal before, during, or after you drink. But food can also cause your blood sugar to rise, so eat sensibly. Follow your diet for diabetes management, if prescribed by a physician or nutritionist.
You should also drink plenty of water, as alcohol can cause dehydration. Increased water consumption also helps to flush the alcohol out of your system more fully.
Remember, though alcohol is the life of the party, it is, in essence, a poison. Your body can only handle so much. If you have diabetes, you should limit the frequency of your alcohol consumption and drink in moderation. Follow common sense and your doctor's guidelines.
Alcohol, Diabetes and Your Diet
Alcohol is basically sugar, and it contains calories. You must factor alcohol into your diet, especially if you are on a meal plan for managing diabetes. Factor in 2 fat exchanges per drink. If you are drinking wine or beer, you must also take into account the carbohydrates. Drinks with carbohydrates can actually cause blood sugar levels to rise.
If you are watching your weight or actively dieting, you should not drink alcohol. Alcohol is an easy fuel for your body to burn, so your body will burn it first. While it's burning the alcohol it will stop burning fat, which is counterproductive to the goal of losing weight.
