Diabetes management requires very careful monitoring of blood sugar levels and following guidelines about intake of food and beverages. Consuming a healthy diet is part of diabetes management, notes MayoClinic.com. When managing diabetes, always ask the doctor if it is safe before modifying your diet to include alcoholic beverages. Get specific advice about the amount of alcohol that is allowed while managing diabetes. Only drink alcohol while also eating a meal, according to the University of California, San Francisco, Diabetes Teaching Center.
Spike in Blood Sugar Level
Consuming alcohol can cause a spike in your blood sugar level. Some alcoholic beverages can quickly cause hyperglycemia. Many alcoholic drinks are high in carbohydrates, especially those made with fruit juice or liqueurs or port wine, notes The Ohio State University Medical Center.
Increase in Nerve Damage
Consuming an excess of alcohol while diabetic can cause an exacerbation of nerve damage in the body, notes MayoClinic.com. Nerve damage can cause pain in various areas of the body, such as your feet and legs. Alcohol intake can cause symptoms of nerve damage to become more severe and consistent.
Vision Problems
Drinking alcohol while managing diabetes can lead to the development of eye disorders, notes MayoClinic.com. Excessive alcohol consumption frequently increases blood sugar levels to a dangerous level. Eye problems such as damaged vision or blindness can occur.
Low Blood Sugar Level
A low blood sugar level can develop after consuming alcohol. For diabetics on insulin or oral medications, just 2 oz. of alcohol can result in blood sugar dropping to dangerous levels, notes MayoClinic.com. This occurs because when the liver is working to process the alcohol in the body, it does not effectively distribute the sugar needed to keep blood sugar levels stable and a low blood sugar reaction occurs.
Liver Damage
High levels of alcohol intake while diabetic will also damage the liver and impede the creation of glucose, notes The Ohio State University Medical Center. Thus, in time the liver will not function normally. This will make it more difficult to manage your diabetes.
Increase in Triglyceride Levels
Alcohol in the body causes the liver to manufacture triglycerides and also limits how the liver can clear fat from the body, reports The Ohio State University Medical Center. This increased level of fat in the bloodstream can be dangerous, especially if triglyceride levels are already higher than normal.
