The holiday season is a joyous time of year, but for many people, that joy comes with a lot of stress. Having diabetes or any kind of chronic condition can add to that stress, too. Managing blood sugar levels, limiting those tempting goodies, and trying to stick with an exercise program can make this time of year challenging, to say the least.
Another issue that people with diabetes face at the holidays and frankly, any time of year, is the use of alcohol. I bring up alcohol use because the term “holiday spirit” can mean enjoying a glass of wine or champagne, a cup of spiked eggnog or a hot chocolate laced with peppermint schnapps. If you have diabetes, you might be wondering if you can partake in a “holiday spirit” or two.
Is it okay to drink alcohol if you have diabetes?
There isn’t one right answer to this question. The best answer is “Probably.” Most people can safely enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two, but you should always first check with your healthcare provider. You might have other health issues or be taking medicines that could interact with alcohol, causing more harm than good. However, you can take some comfort in knowing that the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society agree that drinking alcohol in moderation is not off limits to most people.
How does alcohol affect diabetes?
Alcohol is metabolized, or processed, by the liver. It takes the average person two hours to metabolize one drink. If you drink more than one drink in this time frame, alcohol can affect other parts of the body, such as your brain, giving you that “buzz” feeling. In terms of blood glucose, alcohol may lead to low blood glucose if you take insulin or certain types of diabetes pills, like glipizide, glyburide or glimepiride, for example. The liver has to deal with the alcohol you’ve just consumed and therefore can’t really pay attention to what’s happening with your blood glucose. As a result, your blood glucose may drop too low, especially if you haven’t eaten anything that contains carbohydrate. Drinking alcohol (especially more than what’s recommended) may lead to low blood glucose hours later, as well.
What’s considered “drinking in moderation”?
Here are the standard guidelines for using alcohol: men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should have no more than one drink per day. A “drink” counts as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1 ½ ounces of hard liquor (gin, rum, vodka).
What about mixed drinks?
If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s best to stick with wine, champagne, light beer or hard liquor. If you like “mixers”, choose water, seltzer, diet tonic water or diet soda. A splash of cranberry or orange juice is okay. Try to limit cocktails like rum and Coke, screwdrivers, margaritas or mudslides. Besides packing calories, these drinks may contain quite a bit of carbohydrate that can affect your blood glucose. A cup of spiked eggnog sure goes down smoothly, but it weighs in at about 400 calories and 37 grams of carb!
Are there any health benefits to drinking alcohol?
Surprisingly, alcohol may be good for your health. When consumed in moderation, alcohol can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower the risk of getting diabetes, decrease the risk of dementia, add a few years to your lifespan, and possibly even fight against the common cold. Of course, if you don’t drink alcohol, you probably shouldn’t start drinking. But it’s nice to know that a bit of holiday cheer may be good for your health.
How can you drink safely with diabetes?
First, make sure that your diabetes is under reasonable control. Drinking alcohol on top of swings in your blood glucose can make it harder to get things regulated. Second, if you are at risk for low blood glucose because you take insulin or certain types of diabetes pills, make sure you’re checking your blood glucose regularly (including before and after you drink) and that you always eat a carbohydrate food when you drink. Third, alcohol and exercise don’t mix. Don’t grab a cold beer after a workout session at the gym. You can greatly increase your chances of low blood glucose by doing so. Finally, if you have questions or concerns, or if you have certain complications from your diabetes like heart, eye or kidney disease, check with your healthcare provider before you drink alcohol to make sure it’s safe for you.
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