Can I drink alcohol if I have diabetes?

Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer are classified as sedatives, because alcohol can cause depression of the central nervous system. Every organ in the body can be affected by alcohol. Once consumed, it is rapidly absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and enters the bloodstream.
In the average person, the liver can break down about one standard glass of alcohol per hour. Excess alcohol will move throughout the body. Amounts of alcohol that are not broken down by the liver are eliminated by the lungs, kidneys, and skin through urine and sweat.
The harmful effects of alcohol on the body depend on the amount of alcohol consumed. In small amounts, alcohol acts as a stimulant, making you feel better, happier. However, drinking too much alcohol can cause serious health problems.

People with diabetes must be careful when drinking alcohol because alcohol can affect blood sugar and diabetes treatment such as:
Although moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, But excess alcohol can also cause low blood sugar - sometimes causing it to drop to dangerous levels, especially for people with type 1 diabetes. This is because the liver has to work to remove alcohol from the blood instead of controlling blood sugar, and because alcohol can make the body unaware of low blood sugar. Symptoms caused by alcohol can be mistaken to mask the symptoms of low blood sugar such as: Confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, dizziness, unconsciousness. Alcohol interferes with the liver's ability to work. The liver's main function is to store glycogen, which is the stored form of glucose, so you'll have a source of glucose even when you're not eating. When you drink alcohol, your liver has to work to remove the alcohol from your blood instead of working to regulate blood sugar. So you should never drink alcohol when your blood sugar is already low. Sweet beer and wine contain carbohydrates and can raise blood sugar levels. Alcohol stimulates your appetite, can cause you to overeat, and can affect blood sugar control. Alcohol can also affect your judgment or willpower, making you more likely to fall into an unhealthy diet or make you forget to take your medicine. Excessive alcohol consumption can decrease the overall effectiveness of insulin and cause interactions with some diabetes medications. Alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to rise or fall, depending on how much you drink. Some diabetes medications (including sulfonylureas and meglitinides) also lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin. Combining the hypoglycemic effects of the drug with alcohol can lead to severe hypoglycemia or insulin shock, which is a medical emergency. Alcohol causes an increase in blood triglyceride levels, raising blood pressure. Drinking a lot of alcohol increases the risk of complications from diabetes, such as cardiovascular complications (due to increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol, weight gain).

Alcohol causes many harms to health, especially in people with diabetes. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't drink alcohol completely once you've been diagnosed with diabetes. It's important to drink alcohol the right way and how much to drink.
Here are some tips for diabetics when using alcohol:
Discuss with your treating doctor whether you should drink alcohol and, if so, how much alcohol you should drink. How much is suitable? Depending on the medical condition of each person, the doctor will give appropriate advice, in some cases it is necessary to stop drinking completely due to the use of some special drugs. People with diabetes who plan to consume alcoholic beverages should check their blood sugar before and 24 hours after drinking. Also check your blood sugar before going to bed to make sure it's stable. Current guidelines recommend no more than two standard drinks per day for both men and women. One standard glass is equivalent to: 100 ml of wine, 285 ml of regular beer, 30 ml of spirits, 60 ml of wine, 375 ml of low alcohol beer (less than 3% alcohol). Strong alcohol can be mixed with filtered water, mineral water, soda for easy drinking and to limit the amount of alcohol that is drunk. If possible, replace alcohol with beer or other non-alcoholic beverages. People with blood sugar problems should avoid mixed drinks and cocktails. These drinks are often high in sugar and calories, which will raise blood sugar levels. Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach: Food slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Besides, the symptoms of hypoglycemia can suddenly appear, which is dangerous if the drinker has not eaten anything before. Be sure to eat a meal or snack that contains carbohydrates if you plan to drink alcohol. Drink slowly, don't drink too much at once Be wary of craft beers, as these can have twice the alcohol and calories as lighter beers. Avoid drinking alcohol and diabetes medications at the same time. If you are injecting insulin and drink alcohol during the day, it is important to check your blood sugar before going to bed; If the result is less than 7 mmol/l, then you should eat more food. If you can't test it, eat starchy foods to avoid the risk of low blood sugar in the middle of the night.

In summary, people with diabetes should be especially cautious about drinking alcohol because alcohol can make some of the complications of diabetes worse. Alcohol affects the liver in its job of regulating blood sugar. Alcohol can also interact with some diabetes medications. Therefore, even if you only rarely drink alcohol, talk to your doctor so he or she knows which medication is best for you.

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