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Why No Alcohol With Diabetes Medication?

Physicians advise diabetics to avoid drinking alcohol due to its impact on blood pressure levels, liver and circulatory functioning. Alcohol can also have adverse effects on diabetes medications, causing blood sugar levels to fluctuate at alarming rates.To maintain control over the condition, diabetics should avoid consuming alcohol when taking diabetes medication.

  1. Diabetes

    • Diabetes is a chronic illness that causes numerous health problems. The condition is characterized by the body's inability to produce sufficient insulin that is used to fuel the body. If not properly treated, diabetes can have adverse effects on the body's circulatory functioning. The condition damages the veins and constricts blood flow to the limbs of the body. Circulatory functioning also causes eye disease and high blood pressure. All of these factors combine to put diabetics at risk of developing severe health problems.

    Alcohol and Diabetes

    • Diabetics are often cautioned about drinking alcohol since it can result in hyperglycemia, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, or hypoglycemia, where blood sugar levels are lower than normal. The overall effects of alcohol are dependent on the diabetic's level of nutrition. In other words, consuming alcohol makes a diabetic that has proper nutrition develop hyperglycemia, while a diabetic with poor nutrition will develop hypoglycemia. Regardless, both conditions can cause serious health problems.

      Alcohol impacts the liver's ability to regulate the body's blood sugar levels. Therefore, whenever the body's blood sugar levels fall, the liver releases stored sugar to stabilize blood sugar. However, the consumption of alcohol requires that the liver metabolize alcohol instead of regulating blood sugar.

      Alcohol also causes the blood pressure to spike; therefore, diabetics with high blood pressure should refrain from drinking.

    Alcohol and Insulin

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetics who use insulin or other oral diabetic medications can be greatly impacted by consuming 2 ounces of alcohol. For a diabetic, 2 ounces of alcohol has the same effect as two shots of hard liquor. Alcohol increases insulin's potency by enhancing the medication's blood sugar-lowering effects. Insulin and alcohol can also cause the pancreas to increase insulin production, which causes a greater decrease in blood sugar levels.

    Metformin

    • Metformin is used to decrease blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics, and drinking alcohol while using the medication can lead to the development of lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a serious condition that involves the buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. Lactic acid removes oxygen from the muscles and ceases their functioning. This side effect is extremely dangerous for diabetics since they're already at risk for losing functioning of their limbs.

    Glyburide

    • Glyburide is used to lower the blood sugar levels in diabetics, and alcohol can be unpredictable when used with the medication. Alcohol inhibits Glyburide from being removed from the body, which extends the medication's blood lowering effects. Glyburide can also interfere with the body's ability to break down alcohol, allowing alcohol to remain in the body and increasing the likelihood of it damaging the organs.

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