How Drinking Alcohol Affects Diabetes

If you suffer from diabetes, you might want to know the effects of alcohol on your health. Alcohol can fluctuate your blood sugar levels and contains a lot of calories. It is okay to drink occasionally and only when your blood sugar level is well-controlled. But if you don’t, it might be detrimental to your health and wellness. It’s advisable to ask your doctor if drinking alcohol is safe. 

That being said, let’s look at how alcohol can affect your health if you have diabetes. 

 

The Unfriendly Connection between Alcohol and Diabetes

If you have diabetes and like to drink alcohol, it’s essential to know how it affects your health. It’s not a good idea to consume alcohol without checking your blood sugar levels. That’s because alcohol can interact with diabetes medication, affect your blood sugar levels, and prevent the liver from working correctly.

1. How alcohol interacts with your medications

 Alcohol can make your blood glucose levels fall or rise depending on what frequency and the amount you consume it. Some diabetes medications also lower your blood sugar levels by motivating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Combine these two cases, and it might lead to insulin shock or hypoglycemia, which requires urgent medical attention. 

2. How alcohol affects your blood sugar levels 

The sugar content carried to your bloodstream is known as blood glucose. The foods and drinks we consume daily affect its levels. Food with high sugar content means more glucose in your bloodstream. Since alcohol contains sugar and carbohydrates, it can significantly affect your blood sugar levels. Your glucose levels will rise if you consume a moderate amount of alcohol. But for excessive consumption of alcohol, this becomes the complete opposite and results in steep blood sugar levels. This fluctuation can be a severe health concern.

3. How does alcohol prevent the proper working of your liver?

Your liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen, which helps balance glucose levels when you don’t eat. When you consume alcohol, your liver starts to remove it from the blood instead of working to regulate the sugar in your bloodstream. Drinking alcohol when your blood glucose is already low can be detrimental to your health since your liver will work to remove alcohol instead of maintaining glucose levels.

4. How alcohol can cause insulin shock  

When you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels will drop for 12 hours. Check your sugar levels before and after consuming alcohol for your safety. Eat a snack if your blood sugar levels are falling, and consult your doctor right away.

5. Test your blood glucose levels before and after drinking alcohol

As you might already know, alcohol impacts your liver’s working and affects your blood glucose levels. It’s crucial to always test your blood sugar levels before and after drinking alcohol. If your blood sugar levels are low, it’s essential to avoid drinking. If the levels are okay, you may recheck them after drinking alcohol to be on the safe side.

Conclusion 

When it comes to being a diabetic patient and consuming alcohol, there’s no one size fits all. While alcohol can drop or raise your blood sugar levels, you can still drink it once in a while. But make sure you check your blood sugar levels before and after consuming it. Contact your primary care physician in Tomball, TX. We will evaluate your unique condition and give you the best advice.