Your Health: Alcohol consumption and living with diabetes

If you are living with diabetes, you are likely aware of how different foods affect your blood glucose, but you might question whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol.

The American Diabetes Association recommends asking yourself 3 questions:

Is your diabetes under control?

Do you have health problems that alcohol can make worse, such as diabetic nerve damage or high blood pressure? Check with your healthcare provider.

Do you know how alcohol can affect you and your diabetes?

If your diabetes management plan has you taking insulin or certain oral diabetes medications, drinking alcohol can cause a dangerously low blood sugar. This is a result of the liver working harder to remove the alcohol from your blood instead of what it would usually be doing: regulating your blood sugar.

When alcohol is consumed, it moves into the bloodstream without being metabolized in your stomach. It takes about five minutes after the first drink for there to be enough alcohol in your bloodstream to measure. According to the Mayo Clinic, “alcohol is metabolized by the liver, and for the average person it takes approximately two hours to metabolize one drink. If you drink alcohol faster than your body metabolizes it, the excess alcohol moves through your bloodstream to other parts of your body, particularly your brain.” If you’ve ever gotten a “buzz” when drinking alcohol, that’s why.

It’s important that we recognize the similarities between low blood sugar and too much alcohol. Disorientation, dizziness, and sleepiness can occur in both circumstances, and we want to avoid the mistake of confusing hypoglycemia for intoxication. To be safe, a medical ID indicating you are a diabetic should be worn at all times.

The Mayo Clinic suggests the following tips for managing alcohol consumption and diabetes:

Consult your physician and follow his/her advice — alcohol can worsen diabetes complications.

Monitor your blood sugar before, during, and after drinking alcohol. Remember to check before going to bed.

Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach — food slows down the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream.

Avoid binge drinking — The American

Diabetes Association suggests men have no more than two drinks a day, and women one, the same guidelines as for those without diabetes.

Be prepared — Always carry along glucose tablets or another source of sugar. Glucagon shots will not work in this case.

Don’t mix alcohol and exercise — physical activity and alcohol will increase your chances of getting a low blood sugar.

For more information, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. To learn more about diabetes prevention, visit citycountyhealth.org.

Katie Beyer is a Certified Health Education Specialist working as a Prevention Specialist at City County Health District. Your Health is coordinated by City-County Health District.