Does alcohol worsen the effects of hypoglycemia?
July 9, 2009 by Diabetes and Blood Glucose Tips
Filed under Hypoglycemia & Hyperglycemia
Can you answer AliB’s question about Diabetes?:
Thanks for the other answers - very helpful. Next I would like to know if drinking alcohol could effect my hypoglycemia and in what way?
Latest Diabetes Research
Thanks for the other answers - very helpful. Next I would like to know if drinking alcohol could effect my hypoglycemia and in what way?
Latest Diabetes Research
Diabetes Feedback: yes im a diabetic if i drink i will become hypoglycemic. so i cant drink at all. good luck
Diabetes Feedback: You should never drink rubbing alcohol… it is dangerous for you.
Diabetes Feedback: I guess if you have a death wish go for it, any amount of alcohol can have a sever affect on your sugar levels
Diabetes Feedback: yep the alcohol impairs your body from absorbing the sugar u need
Diabetes Feedback: No, alcohol itself does not directly affect blood sugar levels in any meaningful way unless your hypoglycemia is somehow being caused by a liver malfunction. However, consumable alcohols are almost all created from fruits or high-starch vegetables, which tend to leave a high number of carbs in them. This is where the trouble comes in. Some thicker beers like Sam Adams Black Lager have more than a full carb choice in each can/bottle [19g of carbs in this case], so 3 of those pretty much counts as a meal(!) for most diabetics. Even light beers aren’t all the same, with most having over 6g carbs per can/bottle. Miller Lite and MGD64 are among the best beers in this respect, with both in the 2.5-3g range. This can add up quickly if you aren’t paying attention, and everyone knows it’s not always easy to keep track of how many you’ve already had. Mixed drinks almost always include juices, which are just more carbs.
Also, drunk people tend to lose inhibitions, including what they eat. This is a particular problem in bars where the foods commonly on the table are (high starch again) chips, pretzels, and nuts.
So long as you are mindful of what you are consuming, it shouldn’t be a problem, but being mindful and drunk isn’t a skill everyone has.
Diabetes Feedback: I’m horriable at monitering my blood sugar, but in the mornings I do notice a difference sometimes if I don’t eat before bed if I was drinking. But besides that durring the time I’m drinking I don’t feel different.