By Adam Garcia
Today in Diabetic Lifestyle we will be answering a question that several of our readers have asked about. Of course, it has been asked several different ways, but the general question has been – “Can I drink alcohol as a diabetic?” The following has been the information we have found on several various websites.
According to WebMD, “Alcohol is processed in the body very similarly to the way fat is processed, and alcohol provides almost as many calories. Therefore, drinking alcohol in people with diabetes can cause your blood sugar to rise.” This particular article was last reviewed in March 2009. Another suggestion, also from WebMD, has found possible contradicting evidence. This article from June of 2004 by Salynn Boyles talked about an Italian study that shows that alcohol improves the body’s resistance to insulin — the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes. You see, people with Type 2 diabetes are not able to use glucose effectively because of their body’s resistance to insulin.
Researcher Angelo Avogaro, MD, PhD writes, “While drinking alcohol may have many effects on carbohydrate metabolism, this study specifically quantifies the improvement in insulin action.” Avogaro and colleagues from the University of Padova Medical School, tested insulin sensitivity among eight healthy people and eight people with Type 2 diabetes prior to and while they were drinking alcohol. Insulin sensitivity was tested by checking tolerance to glucose while the participants drank 40 grams of alcohol administered as vodka 40% weight by volume; the equivalent of about three drinks. Drinking alcohol was shown to directly impact insulin’s action in both groups, but the effect was much stronger among the people with diabetes. In the diabetic people, the study showed an improvement in insulin’s action and other parameters such as fatty acid levels, which may contribute to complications relating to diabetes and heart disease. Avogaro told WebMD that alcohol was able to normalize insulin activity in the diabetic volunteers, but he explains that the effect was not caused by an increase in insulin secretion but rather an improvement in insulin resistance. The researchers concluded that “in the absence of a history of alcohol-related problems or other contraindications, we would encourage the use of small amounts of alcohol to improve insulin sensitivity and, perhaps, stave off potential cardiac complications of diabetes.” So according to this study, light to moderate alcohol drinkers appear to have an edge over others when it comes to diabetes risk.
“How Much Is too Much?” you may ask. According to nutrition researcher Frank Hu, MD, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, who has also studied the effect of alcohol on the risk of diabetes, he stated that the evidence from large-population studies is fairly consistent and shows a reduction in risk of 30% to 40% associated with moderate drinking — similar to the reduction in heart disease risk associated with moderate alcohol consumption.
Hu tells WebMD that moderate drinking is generally defined as no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink for women. A standard drink, such as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits, has between 11 grams and 14 grams of alcohol.
Now, the American Diabetes Association neither encourages nor discourages moderate alcohol consumption among diabetes patients, but the American Heart Association spokesman Nathaniel Clark, MD, says the fact that alcohol is also a source of empty calories can be a particular problem for people with Type 2 diabetes. “Weight control is a big issue with Type 2 diabetes, and alcohol represents a significant source of calories with no nutritional value,” he says. “It doesn’t make much sense to drink two or three gin and tonics a night if you are trying to lose weight.” Clark characterizes the Italian study as interesting, but says that the findings must be confirmed in larger studies.
So, “Can I drink alcohol as a diabetic?” Well, for a diabetic lifestyle, the answer may be confusing and the studies may contradict one another. However, if you choose to drink alcohol as a part of your diabetic lifestyle and meal plan, then please follow these alcohol consumption guidelines:
- Do not drink more than two drinks of alcohol in a one-day period. (Example: one alcoholic drink = 5-ounce glass of wine, 1 1/2-ounce “shot” of liquor or 12-ounce beer).
- Drink alcohol only with food.
- Drink slowly.
- Avoid “sugary” mixed drinks, sweet wines, or cordials.
- Mix liquor with water or diet soft drinks.
Remember that alcohol can affect diabetes in other ways. These effects are below:
- While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels.
- Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.
- Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat and may affect your blood sugar control.
- Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
- Alcohol may increase triglyceride levels and blood pressure.
- Alcohol can cause flushing, nausea, increased heart rate, and slurred speech.
I would also suggest this. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your healthcare providers. If you choose to drink alcohol as a diabetic, only drink it occasionally, moderately and when your diabetes and blood sugar level are well-controlled.
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