Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram, which is a similar calorie level as fat. Your body metabolizes alcohol exclusively until your body has processed it completely. Any food eaten with alcohol isn't absorbed and used for energy until your body processes any alcohol consumed with the meal. For diabetics, this can cause low blood sugar levels, depending on how many alcoholic drinks you have consumed.
Insulin Sensitivity
Alcohol consumption causes your body to produce insulin in response to any calories in the alcohol, the beverage it was mixed with and any food you consumed with the alcohol. The insulin has nothing to act on when your body is processing alcohol. This can lead to low or lower blood sugar levels as your body burns up the alcohol. This can be a real problem if you are diabetic and take insulin or oral medications to help manage your blood sugar levels, because the effects of these medicines are stronger and lower your blood sugar faster when alcohol is present.
Glucagon Release
Glucagon is a hormone produced in response to low blood sugar. Glucagon doesn't get released when you have alcohol in your system because your body is too busy processing alcohol to recognize you have a low blood-glucose level. Alcohol impairs your brain's ability to recognize when your blood glucose level is low, so your liver can release stored glucose for energy.
Chronic Drinking
Chronic drinking can lead to living with high blood glucose levels. Alcohol interferes with insulin sensitivity, causing your body to lose the ability to use glucose that is circulating in your blood. This can result in secondary diabetes as a result of the alcohol disrupting your body's ability to use blood glucose and insulin, according to Michaele Dunlap of Oregon Counseling. Chronic drinking may lead to liver damage, resulting in severely high triglyceride levels. Your liver becomes impaired and is overwhelmed by the amount of alcohol you consume. Your body in turn makes more triglycerides as a compensation for the high alcohol consumption, according to Ask the Dietitian.
High Blood Glucose Levels
Sometimes when you consume alcohol, your blood sugar or glucose level can go up for an extended period of time. For each ounce of alcohol you consume, your body takes approximately two hours to process all of the alcohol. Any food consumed with alcohol is put on hold till your body finishes processing the alcohol. Those calories rush into your blood stream, causing your blood glucose levels to rise. This generally happens if you consume a high-carb meal with your alcohol or shortly after drinking. High-fat and high-carb meals can extend the time your blood glucose level rises up to 12 hours. Alcoholic beverages with lots of sugar, such as mixed drinks, margaritas and daiquiris, can cause large spikes in blood glucose levels after your body finishes processing the alcohol.
Impairment of Body Systems
The American Diabetes Association cautions against drinking on an empty stomach to prevent low blood glucose episodes, especially if you are drinking close to bedtime. Since alcohol becomes your body's primary energy source, low blood glucose levels can occur, which can create issues for diabetics. Check with your health-care provider about including alcohol into your meal plan to prevent changes in blood glucose levels.
