Toasting the Holidays with Diabetes
The holiday season is a time for lots of get togethers and parties. Good food, sweet treats and the occasional glass of wine or cocktail can all be part of the fun. But, having diabetes can make toasting the season a little more complicated.
Does alcohol raise blood sugar or does it cause low blood sugar? Well, it depends on a lot of things. If you drink a beer on an empty stomach, the carbohydrates are absorbed rapidly into the blood and that can raise your blood glucose level. How high it goes depends on how much and how fast you drink. Alcohol can also cause low blood sugar levels, especially if you are on insulin or take oral diabetes medications.
Never drink on an empty stomach. Having something in your stomach slows down the absorption of the alcohol, so it doesn't effect you as quickly. Eat meals and snacks at your regular schedule. Don't overdo it with the holiday cheer. Have a drink or two at a moderate pace.
Keep in mind also that drinking alcohol can make it difficult to detect the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. You may just feel like you're feeling the effects of drinking and not realize that your glucose is dropping. And it may be harder for others to tell if you are hypoglycemic as well. They may just think that you've had too much and not take it seriously, thereby keeping you from getting the help you need.
Drinking alcohol is also detrimental for people with diabetes because it can worsen neuropathy and increase the burning, tingling and numb sensations that are experienced. It can also cause further damage in retinopathy and nephropathy.
Holiday cheer can still be a part of your celebrations, if there are no complications to consider. A good rule of thumb for alcohol consumption is one drink per day for women and two for men. Choose drinks that have less alcohol and sugar in them. Light beer, drinks made with diet soft drinks, dry or semi-dry wines may be good choices. Ask for a "spritzer" which is wine mixed with sparkling water or club soda. Opting for just a glass of plain or sparkling water with a twist of lemon can also quench your thirst and save on carbs and sugar.
Alcohol is only one small part of celebrating the holiday season. Focusing on friends, family and holiday festivities instead can help you enjoy your holidays and help you take care of yourself. It's all about balance and good health.
Photo by Laurent Renault
Comments
As you know, some beer is lower in carbs than others. Miller Lite may not be the lowest, but with 3.2 carbs per 12oz it doesn’t effect my glucose level enough to matter, even after four beers in 1.5 hours. I realize this may not be the same for all. Worth mentioning. Diabetic Type1 for 53 years and healthy. Very fortunate. I admire your work. Be happy to aid you in any way you see fit.
Jim Devlin