Alcohol and Diabetes

Alcohol and diabetes can be quite a complicated topic. Can diabetics drink alcohol? Can excessing drinking cause diabetes? And are non-alcoholic drinks bad for people with diabetes?

There are many questions surrounding alcohol and diabetes, and what better day to talk about it than on World Diabetes Day. So here are four things you need to know about diabetes and alcohol!

What is Diabetes?

Lets start with a basic introduction to diabetes. There are many different types of diabetes and they function in slightly different ways. What is a common factor is that people with diabetes have a higher than usual blood sugar level.

The most common forms of diabetes include type 1, type 2, gestational and monogenic diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.

Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes in the UK. In fact, 90% of adults in the UK have type 2 diabetes. This is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. 

People are said to have pre-diabetes when blood sugar levels are higher than usual but not yet at the levels found in diabetes. 

So what about alcohol and diabetes? Here are four things to know about alcohol and diabetes.

1. Alcohol Impacts the Liver

As many people know, alcohol puts a lot of stress on the liver and effects its functioning.

But the liver plays a very important role in maintaining the correct glucose levels in the body. Not only does it act as a reservoir for glucose, but it also manufactures glucose when necessary in an emergency. In essence, it has a central role in stabilising blood sugar levels around the body. When the liver is already under stress due to alcohol it releases less glucose.

For diabetics who are more prone to getting hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), alcohol can slow the bodies response to balancing low blood sugar levels. This is because it slows the livers function and over-stresses it.

That means drinking can be difficult or dangerous for people with diabetes. Some people with diabetes cannot drink because of this, others are able to drink in moderation or drink specific drinks. What it does mean is that most people with diabetes who do drink alcohol have to drink mindfully.

2. Alcohol Can Affect Blood Sugar Levels For Up To 24 Hours

Whilst many think that drinking alcohol can only affect blood sugar levels when drinking, the impact of alcohol can last up to 24 hours. In fact your chance of having hypoglycaemia actually increases as the alcohol works through your body. It takes time for your liver to regain its function. Excessive drinking regularly can mean you don’t get a chance to recover from the first night of drinking.

If you are at risk of hypoglycaemia it is important to take care of yourself the morning after drinking. Make sure to stay hydrated and eat something to help balance your sugar levels. Better still if you are able to measure your sugar levels.

3. Alcohol and Diabetes Medication Can Interact

Metamorfin is a common medication prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes or pre diabetes. Doctors advise not to drink whilst using this medication because it can have negative, through to life threatening side effects such as lactic acidosis (which is a rare side effect).

Metamorfin and alcohol can cause very similar side effects meaning that drinking can exarcebate the side effects of the Metamorfin. Almost counterintuitive, it can also increase your risk of hypoglycaemia when you drink because of the effects that both the medication and alcohol have on the liver.

4. Excessive Alcohol Can Increase Your Risk of Getting Type 2 Diabetes

There are two main ways excessive drinking can increase your risk of diabetes:

• Regular heavy drinking can increase your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes because it reduces your bodies sensitivity to insulin.

• Diabetes is a common side effect of chronic pancreatitis which can be caused by excessive drinking.

Alcohol induced diabetes often stops people from drinking and may encourage you towards switching from alcoholic spirits to the non-alcoholic variant.

Alcohol and Diabetes, What To Drink?

This is a common question and the answer depends entirely on the person in question. Afterall diabetes and prediabetes works in so many different ways in different people. But it is recommended that diabetics either avoid alcohol or drink very mindfully in order to stay safe and healthy.

That is why it can be useful to drink non-alcohol drinks, so that you can still make a moment out of having a drink and enjoy the taste and sophistication of alcohol, without losing the clarity of mind to take care of yourself.

Can Diabetics Drink Non-Alcoholic Drinks?

One of the great advantages of non-alcoholic drinks is that they do not put excessive stress on the liver. However, it should be noted that some non-alcoholic drinks, such as alcohol free beers and wines, can contain a lot of sugar. Therefore it is important to check the sugar content of a non-alcoholic drink before drinking it.

That being said, many alcohol-free spirits, or low sugar alcohol-free drinks are suitable for people with diabetes. They can act as a tasty replacement for alcohol. With health and wellness at the forefront of many alcohol free brands ethos’, there is an increasing interest to keep their spirits low in sugars and free from artificial ingredients.

So if you have had to stop drinking or lower your alcohol intake, why not start treating yourself to alcohol-free drinks? In our bottle shop you can choose from a range of tasty and exciting alcohol-free drinks, so that you can still get the joy of creating tasty cocktails and take a moment for yourself, with none of the risks of alcohol.

What’s more? You can drink as much as you want, and your won’t get a hangover!