Alcohol in Diabetes
Diabetics should be careful with alcohol intake. Alcohol is a known risk factor for obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes.
For diabetics, it is therefore important to be careful with alcohol. Patients should consider, preferably in consultation with the doctor about the use of alcohol is acceptable.
Here are some facts about alcohol and diabetes:
- Large amounts of alcohol can reduce blood sugar.
- Beer and sweet wine contain a lot of carbohydrates and may increase glucose levels.
- Alcohol stimulates the appetite. This can lead to overeating and keep good diabetes control.
- Alcohol may interfere with the effects of drugs.
- Alcohol can raise blood pressure.
- Alcohol contains many calories and can lead to unwanted weight gain.
If you still choose to drink alcohol intake should be in periods where you have good control of the disease. You should also limit the total alcohol intake.
You may want to follow these recommendations:
- Use only alcohol to food
- Drink slowly
- Avoid alcoholic beverages with sugar
- Mix the liquor with water or other sugar / non-alcoholic beverages
- Drink no more than two units of alcohol a day
A device is the same as:
• a glass of wine
• a shooter glass with liquor
• one bottle of beer