The basis of therapy for many diseases, including diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, is a certain diet. Frequent minor errors in the diet or the patient’s return to previous eating habits can aggravate the course of the pathological process and cause irreversible consequences. Alcohol products can negatively affect the body of even a completely healthy person, so they should be used with extreme caution and extremely rarely by people suffering from any type of diabetes.
How does alcohol affect a diabetic's body?
The main condition for compensating for diabetes and preventing possible complications is maintaining normal blood glucose levels.
This can be achieved using simple rules:
- follow a special diet that involves limiting the amount of carbohydrates daily;
- take medications to lower blood sugar levels, which is typical for type 2 of the disease;
- perform injections of short- and long-acting insulin according to the doctor’s prescribed regimen (necessary for type 1 diabetes).
Many people who are first diagnosed with diabetes find it difficult to immediately accept a new lifestyle, as well as give up their usual diet, which at least sometimes or only on holidays included strong drinks. That is why it is important for each patient to know whether different types of alcohol are compatible with the diet recommended for illness, as well as which type of this product causes minimal harm.
Processes occurring in the body under the influence of alcohol:
- The amount of glucose produced by the liver enters the bloodstream, which increases the load on the organ. In the event of an unexpected need for glucose, the liver will not be able to replenish its reserves in a timely manner due to the release of glycogen.
- Carbohydrates taken by a person along with alcohol are absorbed more slowly, which is most dangerous for people with type 1 of the disease, when insulin enters the body through injections, forming excess. An increased level of the hormone at the time of drinking alcohol leads to starvation of cells and can worsen a person’s well-being. In a state of intoxication, people suffering from diabetes are quite capable of missing the first signals of hypoglycemia, that is, a sharp drop in blood glucose levels, mistaking their sensations for a habitual malaise after strong drinks.
- Alcohol, like many exception products on the patient’s menu, is quite high in calories. It should be remembered that alcohol does not contain useful substances necessary to participate in metabolic processes, so it leads to excessive deposition of lipids in the blood and obesity, which is dangerous for a diabetic.
- Existing chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys are aggravated, and the course of various pathologies of the cardiovascular system is also aggravated.
- After drinking alcohol, appetite increases, so a person can start consuming carbohydrates uncontrollably, leading his body to hyperglycemia (a sharp increase in blood sugar levels).
- Ethyl alcohol, which is part of alcoholic products, contributes to damage to peripheral nerves.
It is important to remember that patients with diabetes should periodically take certain medications in order to maintain blood vessels and minimize the risk of rapid development of complications that cannot be compatible with even a small amount of any type of alcoholic beverage.
What types of alcohol are preferable for diabetes?
When choosing alcohol, patients with diabetes need to pay attention to several characteristics:
- the amount of carbohydrates presented as various additives that give alcohol a rich taste and increase the calorie content of the product;
- the amount of ethyl alcohol contained in the drink.
According to many experts in the field of dietary nutrition, 1 g of alcohol in its pure form is 7 kcal, and the same amount of fat contains 9 kcal. This indicates the high calorie content of alcoholic products, so excessive drinking leads to rapid weight gain.
To prevent the development of obesity, people with diabetes are allowed to drink the following strong drinks:
- vodka/cognac – no more than 50 ml;
- wine (dry) – up to 150 ml;
- beer – up to 350 ml.
Prohibited types of alcohol include:
- liqueurs;
- sweet cocktails that contain carbonated drinks and juices;
- liqueurs;
- dessert and fortified wines, sweet and semi-sweet champagne.
It is important to remember that alcohol should be consumed in small quantities, in small portions and at long intervals.
The table shows the calorie content of alcoholic beverages:
|
Drink name |
Amount of carbohydrates (g) |
Number of kcal |
|---|---|---|
|
Wine and Champagne |
||
| Dessert (20% sugar) | 20 | 172 |
| Strong (up to 13% sugar) | 12 | 163 |
| Liqueur (30% sugar) | 30 | 212 |
| Semi-sweet (up to 8% sugar) | 5 | 88 |
| Semi-dry (up to 5% sugar) | 3 | 78 |
| Sweet | 8 | 100 |
| Dry (no sugar) | 0 | 64 |
|
Beer (indicating the percentage of dry matter) |
||
| Light (11%) | 5 | 42 |
| Light (20%) | 8 | 75 |
| Dark (20%) | 9 | 74 |
| Dark (13%) | 6 | 48 |
| Other drinks | ||
| 0 | 235 | |
| Liquor | 40 | 299 |
| Cognac | 2 | 239 |
Can I have dry wine?
Wine, according to many people and nutritionists, is the only alcoholic drink that, when consumed in minimal quantities, provides benefits to the body. This is explained by the fact that such alcohol contains some components that can reduce blood glucose levels and restore cellular sensitivity to insulin. That is why it is important to know which wine drink will have a healing effect on the body.
In addition to the calorie content of the drink, color plays an important role, which depends on the production technology, year, variety and place of grape harvest. Dark wines contain polyphenolic compounds that are beneficial for the body, while light wines do not. That is why the best option for diabetics is dry or semi-dry red wine.
How does beer affect diabetics?
Beer, due to its high carbohydrate content, is considered a very high-calorie drink. Drinking this type of alcohol in a person with type 2 diabetes most likely will not lead to a major health problem, but in an insulin-dependent patient it can cause hypoglycemia. Despite the pleasant rich taste of the drink, the dosage of insulin should be reduced before drinking alcohol to avoid a sharp drop in sugar.
Drinking beer is possible only in the absence of sharp fluctuations in blood glucose, as well as in compensated diabetes.
Due to the high calorie content of the drink, the patient should plan his alcohol intake in advance and review his diet during this day, reducing the number of other bread units per day (1XE = 12 g of carbohydrate-containing products).
Is it possible to drink vodka?
Vodka contains alcohol, which is diluted with water, and ideally there should be no chemical impurities. Unfortunately, modern types of manufactured products include harmful components, which ultimately adversely affects the already weakened body of a diabetic patient.
Vodka, although it is an acceptable alcoholic beverage for diabetes, does not exclude the onset of delayed hypoglycemia in patients due to its ability to reduce blood glucose levels. This type of alcohol, combined with insulin obtained by injection, prevents the liver from completely absorbing alcohol and disrupts metabolic processes in the body.
Consequences of drinking alcohol
The consumption of alcoholic beverages by people with diabetes can lead to serious and life-threatening consequences.
These include:
- Hypoglycemic coma– a state of the body in which sugar levels drop to critically low levels.
- Hyperglycemia– a condition in which the glucose value is significantly higher than normal. Coma can also develop due to high sugar levels.
- Progression of diabetes, which will make itself felt in the distant future and will manifest itself in the form of developed complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, polyneuropathy, diabetic angiopathy and others).
Most often, hypoglycemia develops after drinking alcohol, when the amount of insulin or tablets turns out to be more than required. If a person missed the first warning signs of such a condition (tremor, excessive sweating, drowsiness, speech impairment), then ordinary snacks will not help him to restore consciousness. A method such as intravenous glucose will be used and may even require a hospital stay.
Video about the effects of alcohol on the human body:
How to minimize harm?
You can prevent unwanted consequences for the body from drinking alcohol by adhering to the following important rules:
It can be very difficult for a person who has been diagnosed with diabetes to limit themselves to their favorite taste preferences or completely eliminate them from their diet. But it is important to understand that the disease requires adherence to strict rules regarding nutrition in order to avoid dangerous complications.
Alcohol, although it brings pleasant short-term moments into a person’s life, is not a necessary component without which it is impossible to exist. That is why people with diabetes should suppress the desire to drink alcohol as much as possible or at least follow all the recommendations listed while taking it.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus most often appears in adulthood. Although this diagnosis is not a death sentence, it does require significant lifestyle changes. Alcohol consumption is one factor to pay attention to.
The following questions will be important here: what changes does ethyl produce in the body of a person suffering from diabetes.
How do alcoholic drinks affect your well-being depending on their strength and sugar content? And what concomitant diseases can further limit access to alcohol.
The effects of alcohol on a person with diabetes
There is no consensus among doctors about whether it is possible to drink alcoholic beverages with this disease and in what quantities it should be done. Doctors do not deny that alcohol can be beneficial in small doses. However, the negative consequences should not be underestimated.
Thus, some strong drinks contain large amounts of sugar. Therefore, taking them can provoke a sharp increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood. Other types of alcohol, on the other hand, can cause hypoglycemia, which can be fatal.
It is also worth taking into account that ethyl negatively affects the functioning of the liver and kidneys, and reduces the rate of natural insulin production and the metabolic process.
Therefore, if a person suffering from diabetes decides to drink a little alcohol on a holiday, it is worth doing it in such a way as not to harm himself.
Classification of drinks by sugar content and strength
The first factor to pay attention to in type 2 diabetes is sugar content. Acceptable categories of alcohol in this regard include brandy, whiskey, and gin. The lowest sugar content is found in vodka.
For low-alcohol drinks, you should prefer dry wines. Classic red wine is available only in limited quantities. If you want to drink some beer, you need to choose varieties that are low in sugar.
The following are strictly prohibited from admission:
- Martini;
- liqueurs;
- still, sparkling, semi-sweet and sweet wines;
- homemade tinctures and liqueurs;
- champagne;
- cognac.
When determining alcoholic drinks that you can drink with type 2 diabetes, do not forget about the quantity. This factor directly depends on the strength of the drink. Thus, the permissible maximum amount of beer is 300 ml. Dry wine can be drunk in quantities of no more than 200 ml.
Drinks with a strength above 40 degrees should not be drunk more than 50-100 ml.
To calculate the correct proportion for a woman, it is worth reducing the dosage by about a third. Moreover, systematic consumption of intoxicating liquids is strongly discouraged.
Negative consequences for the body
When drinking alcohol with type 2 diabetes, one should not forget about the effects of ethyl on the psyche. Although this influence often leads to a sad outcome for a healthy person, in diabetes it becomes life-threatening.
Thus, alcohol in diabetes can change blood sugar levels.
After a small portion of alcohol, a person feels an increase in appetite, which prompts him to increase the portion of food he eats. Along with impaired metabolism, this process leads to slagging in the body and weight gain. If the disease is accompanied by disease of the liver, kidneys, heart, or gastrointestinal tract, alcohol can provoke an exacerbation. And these things stimulate the further development of diabetes.
In addition to the fact that ethyl can cause blood sugar levels to rise or fall, a person cannot control the situation properly. Ethyl often causes drowsiness, which may cause you to miss signs of a change in condition. Being intoxicated often leads to rash decisions. For example, take Diabeton or one of its analogues if you have low blood sugar.
Combining diabetes and alcohol is dangerous for another reason.
Treatment of the disease and its manifestations involves the administration of an impressive amount of medications. And not everyone has good compatibility with ethyl-containing liquids. Therefore, their combination may lead to loss of treatment effectiveness. Or provoke symptoms of side effects or drug overdose.
You need to be especially careful if diabetes is the result of alcoholism. Then there is a danger that a person will not be able to observe the limit in drinking alcohol. And excess in this area can lead to hypoglycemia.
To an outside observer, the symptoms of this phenomenon may be similar to the behavior of a person who is heavily intoxicated. And without timely medical care, this condition can develop into a coma, which will lead to the development of brain hypoxia or death.
When alcohol is contraindicated
There are a number of diseases that, in combination with type two diabetes, mean a complete ban on alcohol consumption:
- chronic pancreatitis;
- chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis;
- diabetic nephropathy;
- renal failure;
- gout;
- impaired lipid metabolism;
- weight problems;
- tendency to hypoglycemia.
In all these cases, it will be wise to learn to live and create a festive mood without resorting to alcohol.
Rules for drinking alcohol with diabetes
If a person suffering from diabetes decides to drink alcohol, he should consider a number of simple rules to protect himself. Don't drink alone. There must be people nearby who will orient themselves in a timely manner, help themselves or call a doctor.
To avoid a diabetic crisis, you should not start your meal with alcohol.
Ethyl drunk on an empty stomach will quickly be absorbed into the blood and produce its destructive effect. Along with alcohol, it is better to include foods that will be digested more slowly. If you have to move a lot during the evening, you can eat foods high in carbohydrates. This will prevent your sugar level from dropping to a critical level.
If the course of treatment includes diabetes or other drugs, it is necessary to reduce their dose, and some should be discontinued altogether. During the feast and after it, you need to check your blood sugar levels several times. This will allow you to adjust the balance if necessary. Because hypoglycemia can occur at night, it is especially important to do a blood test before bed.
If hypoglycemia begins
When the first signs of low glucose levels appear, you must act immediately. If the person is still conscious, he needs to drink tea, juice or another sweet drink. The carbohydrates contained in the liquid product will quickly enter the blood and bring its condition back to normal.
If the patient has lost consciousness, you should no longer try to pour liquid into his mouth or put candy. Such actions may create a risk of death from suffocation.
At the initial stage of a coma, it is necessary to call doctors who will provide qualified assistance.
The benefits of alcohol for diabetes
Finally, it is worth considering what benefits alcohol can bring to diabetes.
In small amounts, alcohol helps digest proteins, relieve hunger, reduce the release of carbohydrates, and also give a person the necessary energy without releasing insulin. All these benefits are available only with moderation in alcohol, as well as with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus does not always mean a complete abstinence from alcohol. But when choosing a drink, you should consider two factors: sugar content and strength.
Based on these parameters, the quantity is calculated. When deciding to drink a little alcohol, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels. To do this, it is necessary to reduce or partially cancel diabetes or other medications, as well as make adjustments to the intended diet.
Not belonging to risk groups and following simple precautions will help you have a good time without risking your health.
Alcohol in type 2 diabetes is allowed to be consumed only when blood glucose levels have stabilized. When drinking drinks, you must follow safety rules, otherwise the risk of sudden jumps in sugar concentration increases. Permissible maximum doses depend on the type of alcohol, since products differ in carbohydrate and ethanol content.
Potential benefits
Wine can have a moderate beneficial effect. It contains polyphenols that have antioxidant properties. Natural pigments slightly reduce the severity of diabetes symptoms. The product is not able to cure the patient, but if used correctly, it can slightly improve the condition.
Drinking wine in moderation has the following effects:
- Improves protein absorption. Diabetes promotes the breakdown of skeletal muscle. With decompensation, the process accelerates. It is important not only to consume enough protein foods to maintain the normal state of the muscle corset, but also to establish metabolism. With the development of complications from the genitourinary system, the factor can be harmful, so the diet must be agreed with a doctor.
- The feeling of hunger decreases. An important condition is the simultaneous intake of food rich in complex carbohydrates. Small doses of wine, when used with caution, can help reduce body weight.
- The amount of carbohydrate compounds released into the blood decreases. In the long term, this leads to normalization of metabolism and improvement of the condition. It becomes easier to control medication dosages and glucose levels.
If safety rules are not followed, alcohol is not beneficial.
Harm
Alcohol is dangerous due to its ethyl alcohol and carbohydrate content. Some drinks contain large amounts of sugar, which can further aggravate the pathology.
Ethyl alcohol is not converted by the liver into glucose, so the component itself does not affect sugar levels. However, alcohol disrupts metabolic processes and causes a slowdown in gluconeogenesis. As a result, some of the nutrients are not converted into sugar, causing sugar levels to drop. This complicates calculations when creating a menu. With large doses of alcohol, hypoglycemia develops.
To stabilize the patient, it is enough to increase the amount of carbohydrates, but as a result this causes a new jump. After partial removal of alcohol from the body, the glucose concentration increases sharply. This is most dangerous when drinking large doses of beer. For further stabilization, the patient must use medications. After alcohol is completely removed from the body, the sugar concentration drops again. If the effects of the drugs persist, the condition becomes more difficult to control.
Caution should be exercised when taking insulin or other medications at the same time. Alcohol affects the effect of drugs. First, the effectiveness of the drugs increases, which should be taken into account when calculating the dose. With regular use, the body removes foreign substances faster, so the medications are less effective. Increasing doses may cause side effects from other systems.
Additionally, alcohol has the following effects on the body:
- Appetite increases and will weakens. There is a possibility of breaking the diet and worsening the condition.
- An additional source of energy appears. Alcoholic drinks are high in calories. If the chosen product contains a large amount of sugar, the situation worsens. With regular use, the patient becomes overweight, which aggravates the course of the underlying disease.
- Blood pressure rises. After drinking alcohol, the level of blood viscosity simultaneously changes. This increases the risk of developing concomitant pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
- Allergic reactions occur. In diabetes, they are more difficult to tolerate. The development of allergies is most often associated with the presence of additional impurities. Pure ethanol rarely produces individual reactions. Some allergy symptoms may be mistaken for hypoglycemia or signs of intoxication.
- Triglyceride levels increase. This leads to metabolic disorders.
Due to its irritating effect and poor circulation, alcohol worsens the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause additional deviations in the production of enzymes and the absorption of food.
How can I use it?
You can drink alcohol only with compensation and after a doctor’s permission. A face-to-face consultation is necessary to assess the patient’s condition and identify additional contraindications.
When drinking alcoholic beverages, the following rules must be observed:
- Consider dietary changes. Alcohol contains calories and carbohydrates. On the day of drinking, you need to reduce the amount of food you eat.
- Do not drink on an empty stomach. Before drinking alcohol, you need to have a snack to soften the changes. It is advisable to prefer foods containing fiber.
- Control your sugar levels. Some drinks can have individual effects. If hypoglycemia develops, it is necessary to artificially induce vomiting, take a contrast shower, use activated carbon, drink strong tea or mineral water and seek medical help.
- Warn others and loved ones about your intentions. Signs of sugar deficiency can be mistaken for intoxication, causing others to be slow to help.
- Do not drink alcohol more than once every 4 days. Regular consumption of drinks will cause a deterioration in the effect of medications and metabolic disorders.
- Temporarily stop drinking alcohol after changing the course of treatment. When taking new drugs, it is important to monitor the patient's condition and achieve stabilization.
- Women are only allowed to take half the maximum daily dose.
Before drinking alcohol, it is important to decide on the type of drink. The maximum permitted dose depends on it.
Wine
Wine is believed to reduce blood sugar within 24 hours. This must be taken into account when drinking the drink and monitoring glucose levels. For type 2 diabetes, it is allowed to include dry red or white wine in the menu. Sweet and sparkling types must be removed from the diet, as they lead to a sharp increase in sugar levels. The maximum daily dose is 250 ml.
Vodka
Vodka has a relatively high calorie content and contains a lot of alcohol. This can lead to a sharp decrease in sugar levels and excess weight. After receiving a doctor's permission, you can use 20-50 ml of the product 1-2 times a week. It is important to combine vodka with lunch or dinner to prevent the development of a critical condition.
Beer
Beer contains little ethanol and a lot of carbohydrates, so it is the best option. It is allowed to consume up to 300 ml per evening. It is necessary to take into account the number of calories and adjust the dose of drugs. There are no strict restrictions when drinking non-alcoholic beer, since the ethanol concentration is insignificant, but you should remember the balance of nutrients.
Cognac
Cognac contains little glucose, but a lot of alcohol. Due to the small amount of impurities, the drink rarely causes allergies. Its use may be approved by a doctor. The maximum dose is 20-50 ml. Strong alcohol can cause diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, so if there are any other deviations from cognac, you should avoid drinking cognac.
Vermouth
Vermouth is a sweet alcoholic drink that contains a lot of sugar and carbohydrates. Its use may cause sudden spikes in glucose levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, it is strongly recommended to avoid vermouth.
Tequila
Tequila is high in calories and contains relatively many carbohydrates. However, the drink is made from agave, so it contains an organic sweetener. As a result, the product increases insulin production and gently reduces triglyceride and glucose levels. Tequila helps restore the balance of microflora and improves digestion. The maximum dose is 20-30 ml. It is important to monitor the patient's condition, because in some cases the drink can cause hypoglycemia.
Gin
There are no carbohydrates in gin, so the product dramatically reduces sugar levels. Traditionally, the drink is drunk with sweet additives, but this is prohibited if you have diabetes. Gin relatively rarely causes allergies. If you are in good health, your doctor may allow you to use the product. The maximum dose is 30-40 ml.
Whiskey
The drink contains a lot of ethanol, so it can cause hypoglycemia. A relatively safe dose, if the rules are followed, is considered to be 20-50 ml. You can only drink whiskey if your sugar level is stable.
Rum
Rum is a strong drink. It can cause a decrease in glucose concentration. If your sugar level is stable, your doctor may allow you to drink alcohol. The maximum dose is 20-50 ml depending on the gender and condition of the patient.
Consequences
Drinking alcohol can cause not only the development of concomitant diseases, but also sharp jumps in sugar levels. It becomes difficult to control the patient's condition, because ethanol impairs glucose production, and carbohydrates increase its concentration. As a result, the patient has to alternate between taking medications and adjusting the menu. This is fraught with the development of coma. The key danger is that the symptoms of hypoglycemia resemble signs of intoxication, so others may not immediately identify the threat.
DIABETES AND ALCOHOL. Is alcohol acceptable for diabetes mellitus? What and how much?
Signs of type 2 diabetes
About the most important things: Type II diabetes mellitus, intervertebral hernia, hearing loss
Absolute contraindications
Absolute contraindications include:
- chronic pancreatitis (including in remission);
- hepatitis, cirrhosis and other liver diseases;
- any metabolic disorders;
- period of decompensation;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- the presence of ketone bodies in the urine;
- development of complications of diabetes (encephalopathy, cardiosclerosis, neuropathy, nephropathy, etc.).
Diabetes mellitus has not yet been treated, so this diagnosis is given to a person forever. But in life there are holidays and birthdays when the patient has to “meet” strong alcoholic drinks. Is it possible to drink vodka if you have type 2 diabetes? This is a question that worries many patients, especially men. Endocrinologists and nutritionists, even when making a diagnosis, clarify the serious harm of alcohol, especially strong alcohol, and why this harm occurs will be discussed in the article.
Vodka - what kind of product?
Vodka is a strong alcoholic drink, without color, with a characteristic odor. Previously, it was made by distillation, but nowadays it is produced by diluting ethyl alcohol with water to the required concentration. The drink began to be consumed in the 14th century, and it has not lost its popularity even now.
There is a myth that vodka for type 2 diabetes will not harm a person, since it contains a minimal amount of carbohydrates, therefore, it should not cause a spike in sugar. Indeed, high-quality alcohol that has undergone proper purification allows you to get the purest drink with almost no carbohydrates, but its negative properties lie in a specific effect on the body, which will be described below.
In addition to the main component – alcohol – vodka contains a number of minerals and other substances in small dosages:
- Mono-, disaccharides
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Sodium
Vodka for type 2 diabetics is far from healthy due to its high calorie content - per 100 g it is 235 kcal.
Vodka and type 2 diabetes
Ethanol is constantly present in the human body, but in very small quantities. Drinking vodka greatly increases its content. Ethanol has the ability to lower blood sugar, but, unlike drugs, vodka for type 2 diabetes lowers sugar sharply, uncontrollably. The result may be dizziness, fainting and other symptoms of hypoglycemia. In people with type 1 disease, even one “libation” can cause hypoglycemic coma and death (depending on the severity of diabetes).
The harm of strong alcohol also lies in its negative effect on the pancreas and liver. The functioning of the pancreas in a diabetic is severely impaired, its structure is diffusely changed, and the cells may stop functioning. The liver is the organ that most often suffers the consequences of this disease in diabetes, and complications in the form of fatty degeneration and other ailments are highly likely. Vodka literally destroys already suffering organs, the course of the disease and accompanying pathologies moves to a more serious level.
Read also: - benefit or harm?
Conclusions: regular consumption of a strong drink or one-time abuse of it greatly aggravates the development of the disease, increases the risk of early complications and side diseases, so vodka is definitely harmful for type 2 diabetes! But experts note that in the initial stages of diabetes and with its stable course, alcohol of this type can still be taken in small doses and irregularly - no more than 100 g and very rarely. The exception is if you are obese: then you will have to completely give up any alcohol.
How to reduce the harm from vodka to a diabetic?
There are rules, the observance of which will reduce the negative impact of vodka on the body, which does not cancel the above prohibitions and restrictions. So, vodka for type 2 diabetes will be less harmful if:
- Drink alcohol only on a full stomach.
- Do not combine drinking alcohol and taking glucose-lowering pills, fatty, salty foods.
- Do not forget to control your sugar immediately after drinking vodka, after 1 and 2 hours.
- Do not drink vodka after sports.
The question of whether diabetics can drink vodka is decided on an individual basis, but if you want to maintain your health for a long time, it is better to give up the drink, and, moreover, to prevent the formation of a bad habit!
Many people associate diabetes mellitus with a Spartan lifestyle, devoid of basic human “joys” - sweet and fatty foods, a glass of alcohol on a holiday. How does this idea correspond to reality, and is there a need to control your eating behavior so strictly?
The opinions of doctors on this issue differ. Most argue that the body’s reaction to alcohol in diabetes is unpredictable:
There is an opinion that there is no absolute contraindication to alcohol for diabetics; it is only important to follow certain rules for taking it.
“Sweet” disease and alcohol
A diabetic is unlikely to be able to try all the dishes at a festive feast, generously washing down the tasting with alcohol. There are still certain restrictions. If the alcohol is low-calorie and does not contain sugar or its analogues in the recipe, it does not particularly affect glucose levels. This is exactly what people with diabetes are afraid of.
And yet, systematic consumption of alcoholic products is dangerous for a diabetic, as it can cause death. Understanding the mechanism of ethanol’s effect on a patient’s liver and pancreas will help a diabetic develop a competent attitude towards alcohol.
How does alcohol behave in the circulatory system? Ethanol from the bloodstream enters the liver, where enzymes oxidize it and it breaks down. Excessive doses of alcohol block glycogen synthesis in the liver, which can lead to a diabetic crisis - hypoglycemia. 
The larger the dose of alcohol enters the blood, the longer the delay with sugar deficiency. A crisis can occur at any time and there will not always be someone nearby to provide first aid.
Alcohol is most dangerous on an empty stomach or after hard work or training, because glycogen resources are already running out.
You should forever avoid dessert wines, liqueurs, some beers and alcoholic drinks with sugar and substitutes that worsen glycemia.
Ethyl alcohol will enhance the effect of sugar-lowering medications and develop a ravenous appetite when you no longer think about diet. There are no gender differences in diabetes mellitus, just as there are no differences in the consequences of alcohol abuse. In women, alcohol dependence develops faster and is more difficult to treat, therefore the doses of alcohol should be significantly less than for men.
The maximum for the female body is a glass of dry red wine or 25 g of vodka. When first used, it is important to monitor changes in glucose levels every half hour.
Should diabetics indulge in alcohol, watch the video
For which diabetes is alcohol more dangerous?
Diabetes occurs due to disorders caused by genetic causes, viral infection, or failure of the immune and endocrine systems. An unbalanced diet, stress, hormonal disorders, problems with the pancreas, and the result of using certain medications provoke the “sweet” disease. Diabetes can be insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent.
With any variety, the following are possible:
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to intoxication: the diabetic looks sleepy, loses coordination, and has trouble understanding the situation. He needs an emergency injection of glucose solution. Such persons should always have medical documents with recommendations with them.
Type 1 diabetics
Today, type 1 diabetes is an incurable disease that requires lifelong replacement therapy. Sugar is corrected with insulin injections. Insulin-dependent patients need a low-carbohydrate diet.
Alcohol is a high-calorie product and therefore should not be included in the daily diet of a diabetic.
With frequent drinking of alcohol in type 1 diabetes, numbness of the hands, neuropathy and other signs of impending hypoglycemia appear.
Ethanol slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and the body does not receive the energy it needs. Short-acting insulin, which is injected before meals in type 1 diabetes, is not used for its intended purpose. When there is an excess of it, the cells actually starve.
Much depends on the type of alcohol: some nutritionists allow half a liter of light beer with natural yeast or a glass of wine once a week for men. The dose of cognac or vodka is up to 50g. For women, this norm should be halved.
So is it worth drinking alcohol if you have diabetes? There is no clear prohibition provided that the following rules are followed:
Not every patient with type 1 diabetes can accurately calculate the dose of insulin taking into account the calorie content of the alcohol consumed, so there is no need to risk your health unless absolutely necessary.
Type 2 diabetics
A feature of this type is the low sensitivity of cells to insulin. There may be a sufficient amount or even an excess of it in the body, but the fat capsule protects the cell from its effects.
To support the body in a state of compensation it is necessary:
In type 2 diabetes, it is better to completely exclude alcohol from the diet: it kills the pancreas, inhibiting the synthesis of the insulin hormone, and disrupts metabolism. Not everyone understands the danger of even a few glasses of alcohol in such a situation.
In addition to the sharp drop in sugar levels, other restrictions are added:
The consequences of a lavish feast
The most dangerous consequence, the onset of which cannot be foreseen either before drinking, much less after it, is a sharp drop in the level of sugar in the blood plasma. This can also happen in a dream, when an intoxicated diabetic has no control over his well-being.
The problem also lies in the fact that when drunk, a diabetic may miss the developing signs of hypoglycemia, since they are very similar to the symptoms of normal intoxication:
Even quite adequate loved ones who are nearby will not be able to correctly recognize the danger and provide the help necessary for hypoglycemia. In severe cases, the victim falls into a coma, which is dangerous due to its irreversible changes in cardiac and brain activity.
Diabetes and alcohol can have unpredictable consequences, since the effect of ethanol remains in the body for another two days, so be vigilant!
Which drink is preferable?
If it is not possible to ignore the invitation to a feast, you need to choose drinks that can cause minimal harm. Can you drink vodka if you have diabetes?
Instead of a sweet alcoholic cocktail or champagne, it is better to drink a little vodka, taking all precautions:
If you have a choice, it is always better to drink a glass of dry red wine (250g), since strong drinks block the synthesis of cleansing hormones that facilitate the absorption of alcohol by the liver. Red wine contains polyphenols that are valuable for health and normalize glucometer readings. What wine can you drink if you have diabetes? The therapeutic effect appears when the sugar concentration in wine is no more than 5%.
Many men consider beer the most harmless alcoholic product. The drink is quite high in calories, as it contains a lot of carbohydrates (remember the concept of “beer belly”). The classic recipe for German beer is water, malt, hops, yeast. Brewer's yeast is beneficial for diabetes: it normalizes metabolism and restores liver function. This result is not produced by beer, but by yeast. They may not be present in the recipes of modern types of beer.
- Quality beer – 350 ml.
- Dry wine – 150 ml.
- Strong drinks – 50 ml.
To determine the calorie content, it is necessary to take into account the alcohol concentration in the product, since 1 g contains 7 kcal (compare: 1 g of fat - 9 kcal!). Hence the problems with excess weight.
Dose of alcohol that can provoke hypoglycemia:
- Strong drinks – 50-100 ml.
- Wine and its derivatives – 150-200 ml.
- Beer – 350 ml.
Should you mix different types of alcohol? It is desirable that the drinks are made from the same type of raw material and have low calorie content. The table will help you navigate the calorie content of alcoholic beverages.
|
Drink name |
Amount of carbohydrates |
Calorie content |
|
Wine varieties |
||
| Dessert | 20 | 172 |
| Semi-dessert | 12 | 140 |
| Liquor | 30 | 212 |
| Fastened | 12 | 163 |
| Semi-sweet | 5 | 88 |
| Sweet | 8 | 10 |
| Semi-dry | 3 | 78 |
| Dry | 64 | |
|
Beer varieties |
||
| Light (11% dry matter) | 5 | 42 |
| Light (20% dry matter) | 8 | 75 |
| Dark (13% dry matter) | 6 | 48 |
| Dark (20% dry matter) | 9 | 74 |
|
Strong alcohol |
||
| Vodka | 235 | |
| Cognac | 2 | 239 |
| Liquor | 40 | 299 |
| Martini | 17 | 145 |
| Mead | 16 | 65 |
When participating in activities with large meals that cannot be avoided, diabetics should consult their endocrinologist about strong drinks. Usually, if you feel normal and have good sugar compensation, the doctor does not prohibit a little vodka or wine, provided all precautions are taken.
