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Family Health Magazine
DIABETES

Alcohol and Diabetes
Points to keep in mind

In many ways, having a drink or two is all part of enjoying holidays, barbecues and parties. Provided you show moderation, go right ahead – alcohol has little effect on blood glucose control. Drinking can, however, make other medical problems worse. It's best to discuss alcohol use with your doctor and to keep the following points in mind.

• Limit your consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day or no more than 5 percent of total calories required each day (a drink equals about a 12-ounce glass of light beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, a 2-ounce glass of dry sherry or 1.5 ounces of a distilled beverage such as whiskey, rye, vodka or gin).
• Sip drinks slowly to make them last.
• Choose lower calorie drinks like light beer or red or white wine to avoid weight gain.
• Drink at mealtime or have a snack while drinking to prevent any drop in blood sugar.
• Avoid drinks that contain large amounts of sugar (and carbohydrates) and use sugar-free rather than sweet mixers.
• Try alternating one alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink such as soda water or sugar-free pop.

Most doctors and health care professionals agree that it's inadvisable to drink alcohol if you use insulin or take medication to control your diabetes. This combination can cause low blood glucose which may not appear right away. Still, every case is unique so ask your doctor for guidelines.

Don't mistake the symptoms of low blood sugar for intoxication

Remember, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between someone who is drunk and someone who is suffering from a low blood sugar reaction. Your friends may think you're tipsy when it's actually low blood glucose they're seeing.

The best advice? Don't drink on an empty stomach. Also, wear a diabetes identification bracelet and be sure that at least one person in the room knows how to treat an insulin reaction (low blood glucose). It would be prudent to check your blood glucose levels after consuming alcohol, particularly before going to sleep.

Cheers! Simplifying your drink choices

All alcoholic beverages are not created equal! Some are wiser choices than others. Choosing an alcoholic beverage on taste alone is not the best approach when you need to control blood sugar levels. Take a broader view and look at the drink's caloric and carbohydrate content, as well as the amount of starch and fat it contains. The simple table here can help you do just that.