For those living with diabetes, it is unlikely that they have had to give up anything completely, but instead have made slight alterations to their lifestyle including adapting their diet and doing light exercise. And thankfully, taking medication for diabetes doesn’t mean having to give up alcohol either, but, like the diet and exercise, needs to be monitored and limited to ensure the body’s blood glucose levels are kept at a safe rate.
So what is a ‘safe quantity’? Well, for men it is recommended that they do not exceed 3 units a day, and women, 2 units a day. But with the price of alcoholic drinks reflecting the increasing levels of alcohol in them, what does this translate to? Loosely speaking, a pint of beer or lager is 2-3 units, a large glass of wine (250ml) is 3 units, a small glass of wine (175ml) is 2.5 units and a single measurement of a spirit (25ml) like vodka and gin is 1 unit.
It is important for diabetics to stick to these recommended numbers of units because otherwise they run the risk of hypoglycaemia. Medication for diabetes works by lowering the blood’s glucose levels to a safe rate, but if this becomes too low, then the liver releases its own stores of glucose to raise it.
But because alcohol can stop the liver from functioning correctly, should the blood glucose level drop too much, the liver may not be able to release the needed glucose which could lead to hypoglycaemia. And because alcohol can often mask how our bodies are feeling, the warning signs of a hypo may go unnoticed.
So simple steps can be taken for diabetics to enjoy alcohol. Moderating intake as discussed is the best option, and it also recommended that to prevent hypoglycaemia, diabetics eat carbohydrates before they go to bed (toast, cereal, chips etc) as although they may feel alright before sleep, hypoglycaemia can occur up to 16 hours after heavy drinking.
Get advice on counting carbs for diabetics.
