What does beer do to blood sugar

If you never or rarely drink alcohol, you’re not alone—in fact, people with diabetes drink about half as much as other adults. Why? Maybe their doctors cautioned them that drinking and diabetes don’t mix. Perhaps some have health conditions that are incompatible with alcohol. Or maybe they’re just concerned about all those calories—and carbs.

But is the occasional cocktail or glass of wine really so bad? After all, a daily drink does have its benefits. Still, diabetes can make happy hour pretty confusing. Here’s what you need to know about drinking and how to do it safely.

The Benefits 

You’ve probably heard that alcohol is good for your heart. But that’s an oversimplification. Take a look at the numbers and you’ll find that only moderate drinkers have less cardiovascular disease. Those on the opposite ends of the spectrum—people that drink heavily and those that don’t—have a greater risk.

But what exactly is moderate drinking? It’s one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men. However, that “drink” is a lot smaller than some people think: just five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits.

A daily cocktail or two may improve blood sugar (blood glucose) management and insulin sensitivity. If you have one or more drinks a day, you may find that your A1C is lower than during times you weren’t drinking. But if you don’t drink regularly, this doesn’t mean you should start. After all, other aspects of moderate drinkers’ lives may be behind the link.

Too much drinking, on the other hand (more than three drinks daily), can lead to higher blood sugar and A1C.

The Risks

Despite the potential health perks of drinking alcohol, there are some cautions as well. The biggest concern is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). When drinking alcohol is combined with the medications most often used to treat diabetes—particularly insulin and sulfonylureas, low blood sugar can result. While a glass of wine with dinner probably isn’t a big deal, a mojito on an empty stomach at happy hour is.

Blame it on your liver. This organ stabilizes glucose levels by storing carbohydrates and releasing them into the bloodstream between meals and overnight. It’s also the body’s detoxification center, breaking down toxins like alcohol so the kidneys can easily flush them away.

Trouble is, it’s not great at multitasking. Your liver will choose to metabolize the alcohol over maintaining your blood sugar, which can lead to hypoglycemia. The liver often makes this choice when you drink without eating food—so consider snacking while you sip. 

Because many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia—such as slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty walking—are also symptoms of being drunk, it can be difficult to tell the two apart. And if you often have hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which you don’t recognize you’re going low, drinking becomes especially dicey. Timing may also be an issue, as hypoglycemia can strike hours after your last drink, especially if you’ve been exercising. 

Carbohydrate (and Calorie) Confusion

There’s another reason drinking can be challenging. Unlike protein, fat, or carbohydrate, alcohol doesn’t require insulin to provide energy to the body. Yet, many people assume that alcoholic drinks are loaded with carbs, not realizing that wine and spirits are practically carbohydrate free—with only a trace of carbohydrate in spirits and roughly four grams of carbs in a five-ounce glass of wine. The exception is sweet dessert wines, which pack 14 grams of carb in a tiny three-and-a-half-ounce glass.

High-carb drinks may sound like the smart option when you’re at risk for hypoglycemia, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Liquid sugars are quickly absorbed by the body, so those carbs won’t be much help in preventing or treating a low that may occur hours after you drink. Food, on the other hand, is digested gradually, so it provides better protection against lows.

With all the focus on carbs, it’s easy to forget that alcohol also has calories. Given that drinking can make you lose track of what you’re eating, calories (and pounds) can add up quickly. Being tipsy has another downside, making it easy to mix up your medications or to forget to take them entirely. 

Remember, drink sizes vary. That can make it especially difficult to get a grip on how many carbs and calories you’re consuming.

The Take-Away

Drinking is individualized and there’s no universal rule for how to do it safely when you live with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your drinking habits and they can provide you with tips and tricks for how drink in a way that works for you.

What you drink is just as important as what you eat, especially if you have diabetes. In fact, you might be surprised at how much a single drink can affect your blood glucose levels. Living with type 2 diabetes frequently entails avoiding or limiting foods and beverages that can affect blood sugar (glucose) levels. Alcohol is not required to be one of them. However, this doesn’t mean that you can drink as much as you want. Read the blog to know more about beer for diabetics.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Blood Sugar Levels

Alcohol consumption generally fluctuates your blood sugar levels and the hormones needed to control them. It can lead to hypoglycemia (low sugar). Eventually, excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the effectiveness of insulin altogether and make the body glucose intolerant.

In the case of beer, however, the alcohol content is low, but the calorie content is high. A can of beer is said to have 150 calories, and since it is low in alcohol content, people end up having a lot more calories than allowed. This is why, unlike other alcoholic drinks, having beer increases blood sugar levels.

How Can a Diabetic Have Beer Without Any Worries?

Now that you know what beer does to your blood sugar levels, do you still think you can go for that beer glass? Well, the answer is moderate consumption. Anything in excess can cause harm to your body. According to the American Diabetes Organization, moderate consumption means one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Here are a few things you must do to minimise the effect of beer consumption on your sugar levels:

• Try not to drink beer on an empty stomach

Always avoid drinking beer on an empty stomach. This is because the carbohydrate content in beer can immediately spike sugar levels. If you plan to have a glass of beer, compliment it with a low-carbohydrate snack. Alternatively, you can go for light beers that have a lower calorie count.

• Drink slowly

Instead of gulping down cans, you must give breaks between your drinks to minimise their effect. You can also consume water in between to balance out the carbohydrate content.

• Make lifestyle modifications

This is a no-brainer. To live life without any tension, diabetics must make lifestyle modifications, which includes a good and healthy diet, sound sleep, reducing stress, exercising, and more. Diabetics should go for juices like Karela Jamun Juice, Wheatgrass with Aloe Vera Juice, Wheatgrass with Amla Juice.

Read More: Alcohol and Diabetes – Can I Drink Alcohol If I Have Diabetes?

Do’s and Don’ts for Diabetics

Here are a few do’s and don’ts a person with diabetes must follow before consuming any alcoholic drinks:

• Do monitor your blood sugar levels with your glucometerbefore and after the drink.
• If going out for a party, do wear an ID card that says you have diabetes. This will help others quickly identify a case of hypoglycemia, if it happens.
• After consuming alcohol, do not plan to drive for several hours. This goes for non-diabetics too.
• Do not mix sugary drinks such as colas, tonic waters, and juices with your alcohol.
• Make sure you talk to your doctor if it is a pre-planned event.

Now, you know, is beer good for diabetes or not? Beer or any other alcoholic drink in excess can affect your health adversely. This is why it is best to consume them in moderation. Always remember, anything in excess is never good for your health!

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