What Are the Dangers of Diabetes & Alcohol?

Diabetes affects 23.6 million adults and children in the United States. The disease occurs when insulin, a hormone that converts sugar and starches and other food energy into energy needed for daily life, is not produced or not properly produced. A recent World Health Organization study reported that each year, 1.8 million deaths result from alcohol. With diabetes and alcohol, the hazards escalate, as blood sugars are affected.

Alcohol and Diabetes

• Alcohol consumption increases the risk for hypoglycemic reactions and the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

Risks of Alcohol and Diabetes

• Alcohol can increase the risk of low blood sugars, interact with medications causing side effects, worsen conditions such as neuropathy, pancreatitis, ulcers and liver disease, prevent weight loss, and increase triglyceride levels if consumed regularly.

Your Body and Alcohol

• Within five minutes of consuming a drink, it is in your bloodstream.

How to Reduce the Risks of Alcohol

• If you are going to drink, make it an occasional drink. Choose drinks mixed with sugar-free mixers and low in alcohol, such as light beer and dry wine. To make your drink last longer, choose a spritzer. Make sure you are following your insulin routine and eating regular meals and that you have your physician's approval to have an occasional drink.

Drinking with Diabetes

• Drinking should be avoided with diabetes. The occasional drink can be safe when your diabetes is under control, your health care provider permits you to have an occasional drink, and when you know how the drink will affect you.

Insulin and Alchol

• Do not take extra insulin for the alcohol you will be drinking. Always wear your identification bracelet, which alerts that you have diabetes.