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Alcohol

Alcohol and Diabetes

• Alcohol makes hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels) more likely to occur. However, as long as your diabetes is well controlled, moderate amounts of alcohol in line with the above daily guidelines can be drunk before, during or soon after a meal without affecting short- term blood glucose control.
• Never drink on an ‘empty stomach’ as the alcohol will be absorbed too quickly into your blood stream.
• Do not substitute alcoholic drinks for your usual meal or snacks as this may lead to a hypo (hypoglycaemia).
• Serious hypoglycaemia can occur with larger quantities of alcohol, particularly if you are treated with insulin and especially if too little carbohydrate is eaten. Always make sure you take some carbohydrate before going to bed after drinking. Useful snacks include toast, cereal and sandwiches, although chips or pizza on the way home may be an easier, albeit unhealthier, option.
• Delayed hypoglycaemia may occur up to 16 hours after heavy drinking. It is vital you keep your blood glucose levels topped up with carbohydrate and always remember to take something at breakfast. Monitor your blood glucose levels closely.
• Continuous heavy drinking can lead to raised blood pressure in all of us, so again try to limit your intake.
• All types of alcoholic drinks contain calories and can make you feel more hungry, so if you are watching your weight try to limit your intake to the occasional drink.
• Remember you may be less aware of your hypo symptoms when you are drinking so always wear some form of diabetes identification as you and others may confuse a hypo with drunkenness.
• Drinking low carbohydrate beers (eg, Pils larger) and cider offer no benefit because of their higher alcohol content.
• Low alcohol drinks can be useful if you are driving, but few are alcohol free, so remember if you drink enough of them you may still be over the limit.
• Low alcohol wines are often higher in sugar than ordinary ones, so if you do choose these, just stick to a glass or two.
• Drinks with a high sugar content, eg sweet sherries, sweet wines and most liqueurs should be limited.
• Mixer drinks need to be ‘diet’ or ‘sugar free’ such as diet tonic water and cola.
• Moderate alcohol consumption in line with recommended daily guidelines can be beneficial for your heart. Wine, especially red wine may offer greater benefit than spirits or beer. However there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that you take up drinking if you are currently ‘tee total’.
• Never drink and drive.

Text adapted from Diabetes UK

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