Excessive alcohol drinking can affect blood glucose levels in healthy persons and those with diabetes. It causes dehydration and can affect you severely if you have high blood glucose. Alcohol has extra calories and immoderate amounts can lead to weight gain and increase blood pressure and triglyceride levels -- which is unsafe if you have high blood glucose.
Your Body's Response
Drinking alcohol can be dangerous if you have diabetes and take medications to control blood sugar levels. It is difficult for your body to break down alcohol without interfering with the liver's ability to raise blood glucose. This can cause hypoglycemia, which is low blood glucose or low blood sugar. Medications that treat low blood glucose or increase insulin production do not work while alcohol is in the body. Heavy drinking can be especially dangerous.
Preventing Hypoglycemia
Drinking alcohol can cause low blood sugar within 8 to 12 hours. If it is consumed on an empty stomach, alcohol can cause hypoglycemia even a day or two later. Hypoglycemia can happen occur suddenly; the best way to keep your blood sugar levels from dropping is to eat a snack, such as pretzels or popcorn, or a meal while drinking alcohol. Consult with a dietitian about other ways to add alcohol safely into your lifestyle being harmful.
Recommendations
Check your blood sugar levels before you drink and eat, as well as while you drink. You should check your blood glucose again before you go to bed to make sure it is at a safe level -- between 100 and 140 mg/dL. Women should limit alcohol to one or fewer standard drinks and men should have no more than two drinks. A standard drink is 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. glass of wine or 1 1/2 oz. of distilled spirits such as vodka.
Warning
Sometimes symptoms of low blood sugar -- sleepiness, dizziness and disorientation -- are confused with drunkenness. Wear an identification bracelet to let others know that you have diabetes to be on the safe side. Eat carbohydrate-rich foods when drinking alcohol to keep your blood sugar levels from dropping below normal levels.
