Alcohol
and your diabetesCan I still drink alcohol?
A small amount of alcohol will do no harm and can be enjoyed. Now you have diabetes, the general advice on drinking remains the same as for everyone else, but there are some precautions you should now take for your own safety and the safety of others.
How does alcohol affect my diabetes
- Your liver
Your liver is an important part of your body with many functions. One of these is to release glucose (from its store) into your bloodstream when your blood sugar level falls. Your liver is unable to release glucose into your bloodstream if you have drunk too much alcohol. Your blood sugar levels will continue to fall and you may experience a low blood sugar reaction (a hypo). - Hypos
Hypos can happen when drinking alcohol if your diabetes is treated with insulin or tablets. - Your tablets
Some tablets for diabetes can cause flushing of the face when you drink alcohol. Check with you diabetes nurse or doctor if the pablets you take can give you any problems when you drink alcohol. - Heavy drinking
Alcohol is loaded with calories. A pint of ordinary beer contains 180 calories. So, heavy drinkers can become overweight. Being overwieght can cause your diabetes control to worsen leading to high blood sugar levels and poor health. The number of calories in different drinks varies enormously (see chart). In addition heavy drinkers can suffer from malnutrition because they get their energy from alcohol rather than from foodd. Alcohol is short of essential nutrients and vitamins important for health.
About alcohol
- Extra strength lagers contain much more alcohol than ordinary lagers.
- Low alcohol beers, laters and ciders vary enormously in their alcohol content. They can be virtually alcohol free (0.05%) or contain 1/3 the amount of alcohol as similar drinks of ordinary strength. Low alcohol drinks tend to be higher in sugar than ordinary strength drinks.
- Low sugar beers and lagers are higher in alcohol content and are not recommended e.g. Diet Pils.
- Choose ordinary varieties of beer or lager.
- Know your drinks and check the %ABV (alcohol by volume) information on bottles and cans.
What are sensible drinking limits?
One unit of alcohol equals:
| Calories | ABV | |
| Half a pint of beer, lager or cider | 90 | 3-3.5% |
| 1 pub measure of spirit (rum, gin, whisky, vodka) (In Scotland and Northern Ireland a pub measure is 1 1/2 units) |
50 | 38% |
| 1 small glass of sherry | 55 | 16% |
| 1 standard glass of wine | 75 | 11% |
| 1 pub measure of aperitif or liqueur | varies | varies |
A sensible drinking limit for people with diabetes is
For men - no more than 3 units per day = 21 units per week
For women - no more than 2 units per day = 14 units per week
Alcohol is not advised during pregnancy. It could harm your baby. One or two alcohol-free days a week are a good habit for everyone. If weight is a problem, limit your alcohol consumption to 1 unit per day.
What about alcohol and hypos?
If your diabetes is treated with insulin or tablets, you need to take extra care to prevent hypos.
- Remember - your judgement is affected when you drink. You may not recognise that your blood glucose levels are low. Make sure your friends know about hypos.
- Keep to sensible drinking levels.
- Don't drink on an empty stomach - enjoy a meal with your drink.
- You may need to eat a bigger, more starchy meal and adjust your insulin before you drink.
- Eat little and often if you are drinking - don't skip meals or substitute alcohol for meals. You could alternate an alcoholic drink with a low calorie mixer.
- Always carry glucose tablets or sweets on you.
- Always wear or carry diabetes information (a bracelet, necklace or ID card). Hypoglycaemia and drunken behaviour can be confused with each other.
- Remember hypos can happen some hours after a drinking session. Check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep and have a snack if needed.
- Check your blood sugar level in the morning too.
Remember
- Some alcohol-free drinks may be high in calories
- Keep your alcohol intake down if you want to lose or maintain your weight - alcohol is high in calories.
- Avoid drinks that are high in sugar (carbohydrate) e.g. sweet sherry, sweet wine and liqueurs.
- Mixer drinks and soft drinks should be diet, sugar free or low calorie.
- Low alcohol drinks may contain more alcohol than you think.
- Choose ordinary varieties of beer or lager. Low sugar beers or lagers tend to be higher in alcohol. Low alcohol beers or lagers tend to be higher in sugar.
- Your safety and the safety of others is your responsibility.
- DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.