Frankly speaking, diabetes and alcohol are complex topics. Alcohol has a number of adverse effects, which people with diabetes ought to be aware of. However, contrary to the common belief that alcohol is a strict no-no for diabetics, most people with this disease can enjoy some alcohol. However, they need to follow some rules need to be followed by all -- one drink daily for women and two for men.
Most importantly, often alcohol will lower the blood sugar for few hours after consumption, especially if you drink on an empty stomach. However, alcohol also has the potential to spike blood sugar. In fact, the lowering effect can last up to 24 hours; therefore, it is important to check the blood sugar after drinking with increased frequency, Diabetes Self-Management reported.
Before a diabetic goes to sleep after consuming alcohol, it is a must to ensure that his/ her blood sugar is not below 100. At the same time, it is advised that diabetics should drink slowly, eat some food, and keep their body well hydrated. All these will help to lessen the severity of alcohol's effects. Nevertheless, diabetics may find the following drinks more suitable for them.
Beer
A 12-ounce beer contains roughly 15 grams of carbohydrates while a light beer has 3 to 6 grams. In addition, "light" and "low carb" are somewhat the same thing - also the best bet for a diabetic. However, diabetics need to be careful with craft beer, which usually has twice the alcohol and calories as the standard beer, Web MD reported.
Wine
According to some scientists, red or white wine facilitates the body to utilize insulin in a better way and it may also be beneficial for diabetics. At the same time, the wine offers heart benefits. A normal 5-ounce wine provided 120 calories, almost all of it from alcohol, and not carbohydrates.
Liquor
A standard ounce of liquor, subject to the proof, contains roughly the same quantity of alcohol present as 5 ounces of wine. Although liquor is usually free from carbs, mixers such as soda and juice can spike the blood sugar levels. In order to avoid this, blend the liquor with a calorie-free drink such as water or seltzer.
Cupcake Cocktails
Margaritas and mojitos are basically sweet drinks and, hence, they should not be off-limits. Diabetics should use fresh fruit for daiquiris, sugar-free mixers for margaritas, and use natural sweeteners such as agave or stevia rather than pouring simple syrup into mojitos and martinis.
Bloody Mary
As this brunch classic contains vodka, it can be a disaster for diabetes because vodka can make the blood sugar unstable. Therefore, it is advisable that diabetics should remove the alcohol to make the cocktail "virgin," by adding a celery spear, and using low-sodium tomato juice.
