Why is alcohol bad for diabetics?!
Question: Why is alcohol bad for diabetics!?
Answers:
The Diabetes Food Pyramid: Alcohol
Beyond all the health and safety concerns about alcohol, if you have diabetes and are on diabetes medications that lower blood glucose, you need to practice caution!. The action of insulin and some diabetes pills, sulfonylureas and meglitinides (Prandin), is to lower blood glucose by making more insulin!. So, you should not drink when your blood glucose is low or when your stomach is empty!.
Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia shortly after drinking and for 8-12 hours after drinking!. So, if you want to drink alcohol, check your blood glucose before you drink and eat either before or while you drink!. You should also check your blood glucose before you go to bed to make sure it is at a safe level -- between 100 and 140 mg/dL!. If your blood glucose is low, eat something to raise it!.
The symptoms of too much alcohol and hypoglycemia can be similar -- sleepiness, dizziness, and disorientation!. You do not want anyone to confuse hypoglycemia for drunkenness, because they might not give you the proper assistance and treatment!. The best way to get the help you need if you are hypoglycemic is to always wear an I!.D!. that states "I have diabetes!."
Another problem with alcohol can be that it may lessen your resolve to stay on track with healthy eating!. Contemplate this situation!. You sit at a restaurant and sip a glass of wine while you peruse the menu!. As you slowly relax your tastebuds might be more easily tempted to overindulge!.
A Few Guidelines
* If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount and have it with food!. Talk with your health care team about whether alcohol is safe for you!.
* Women should drink 1 or fewer alcoholic beverages a day (1 alcoholic drink equals a 12 oz beer, 5 oz glass of wine, or 1&1/2 oz distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc!.)!.
* Men should drink 2 or fewer alcoholic drinks a day!.
* If you drink alcohol at least several times a week, make sure your doctor knows this before he/she prescribes a diabetes pill!.
More Tips to Sip By
* Drink only when and if blood glucose is under control!. Do not omit food from your regular meal plan!.
* Test blood glucose to help you decide if you should drink!.
* Wear an I!.D!. that notes you have diabetes!.
* Sip a drink slowly to make it last!.
* Have a no calorie beverage by your side to quench your thirst!.
* Try wine spritzers to decrease the amount of wine in the drink!.
* Use calorie-free drink mixers -- diet soda, club soda, diet tonic water, or water!.
* Drink alcohol with a snack or meal!. Some good snack ideas are pretzels, popcorn, crackers, fat-free or baked chips, raw vegetables and a low-fat yogurt dip!.
* Find a registered dietitian to help you fit alcohol into your food plan!.
* Do not drive or plan to drive for several hours after you drink alcohol!.
Adapted from the book Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy!. Written by Hop
or
Alcohol Can Make Some Diabetic Problems Worse
Some people who have diabetes can safely drink moderate amounts of alcohol, but for others any amount of alcohol intake can have very negative health consequences!.
There are some circumstances under which diabetics should not drink alcohol in any amount!. The key for those with diabetes is to understand what conditions can be worsen if they consume alcohol!.
When Drinking Is Harmful
According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking alcohol is a poor choice if diabetics have the following conditions:
* Nerve damage in the arms or legs!.
* Diabetic eye disease!.
* High blood pressure!.
* High levels of triglycerides!.
Alcohol can damage nerve cells; even light drinking can cause nerve damage!. For diabetics with nerve damage drinking can increase the pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensation associated with diabetic nerve damage!.
For diabetics with eye disease symptoms, heavy drinking can make the condition worse and heavy drinking is defined as three or more drinks during one day!.
Diabetics who also have high blood pressure should also not drink alcohol!.
Alcohol can also increase the amount of triglycerides in the blood!. Even very light drinking, defined as two drinks a week, can increase triglyceride levels!. Diabetics who have high triglycerides should not drink alcohol at all!.
Risking Low Blood Sugar
Diabetics who take medication -- insulin shots or oral diabetes pills -- run the risk of low blood sugar levels if they drink alcohol!.
When blood sugar levels drop, the liver usually begins to produce glucose from stored carbohydrates to compensate!. But drinking alcohol blocks the liver's ability to produce glucose!.
The liver treats alcohol as a toxin and works to rid the body of alcohol as quickly as possible!. The liver will not produce glucose again until the alcohol has been processed and cleared from the body!.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics never drink on an empty stomach in order to protect themselves from low blood sugar -- drinking only after a meal or a snack!.
The association also recommends that diabetics who have had something to drink check their blood sugar before going to sleep!. And "eat a snack before you retire to avoid a low blood sugar reaction while you sleep!."
How Much Alcohol Is Okay!?
Diabetics taking medication to control blood sugar levels should first ask their doctor if it is okay to drink alcohol with their specific medication!.
For those taking medication, it is recommended to limit alcohol intake to one drink for women and two drinks for men!. Even two ounces of alcohol can interfere with the liver's ability to produce glucose!.
Because exercise can also decrease blood sugar levels -- because the liver takes glucose from the blood and sends it to the muscles -- drinking immediately following exercise is not recommended!.
For diabetics trying to control weight gain, drinking alcohol is not a wise choice!. Alcohol quickly adds calories to the diet without adding any nutritional value!. Even two light beers can add 200 calories!.
For type 2 diabetics, who control their diabetes with diet and exercise, rather than medication, drinking alcohol is less of a risk factor for low blood sugar!.
Source: American Diabetes AssociatioWww@Answer-Health@Com
Beyond all the health and safety concerns about alcohol, if you have diabetes and are on diabetes medications that lower blood glucose, you need to practice caution!. The action of insulin and some diabetes pills, sulfonylureas and meglitinides (Prandin), is to lower blood glucose by making more insulin!. So, you should not drink when your blood glucose is low or when your stomach is empty!.
Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia shortly after drinking and for 8-12 hours after drinking!. So, if you want to drink alcohol, check your blood glucose before you drink and eat either before or while you drink!. You should also check your blood glucose before you go to bed to make sure it is at a safe level -- between 100 and 140 mg/dL!. If your blood glucose is low, eat something to raise it!.
The symptoms of too much alcohol and hypoglycemia can be similar -- sleepiness, dizziness, and disorientation!. You do not want anyone to confuse hypoglycemia for drunkenness, because they might not give you the proper assistance and treatment!. The best way to get the help you need if you are hypoglycemic is to always wear an I!.D!. that states "I have diabetes!."
Another problem with alcohol can be that it may lessen your resolve to stay on track with healthy eating!. Contemplate this situation!. You sit at a restaurant and sip a glass of wine while you peruse the menu!. As you slowly relax your tastebuds might be more easily tempted to overindulge!.
A Few Guidelines
* If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount and have it with food!. Talk with your health care team about whether alcohol is safe for you!.
* Women should drink 1 or fewer alcoholic beverages a day (1 alcoholic drink equals a 12 oz beer, 5 oz glass of wine, or 1&1/2 oz distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc!.)!.
* Men should drink 2 or fewer alcoholic drinks a day!.
* If you drink alcohol at least several times a week, make sure your doctor knows this before he/she prescribes a diabetes pill!.
More Tips to Sip By
* Drink only when and if blood glucose is under control!. Do not omit food from your regular meal plan!.
* Test blood glucose to help you decide if you should drink!.
* Wear an I!.D!. that notes you have diabetes!.
* Sip a drink slowly to make it last!.
* Have a no calorie beverage by your side to quench your thirst!.
* Try wine spritzers to decrease the amount of wine in the drink!.
* Use calorie-free drink mixers -- diet soda, club soda, diet tonic water, or water!.
* Drink alcohol with a snack or meal!. Some good snack ideas are pretzels, popcorn, crackers, fat-free or baked chips, raw vegetables and a low-fat yogurt dip!.
* Find a registered dietitian to help you fit alcohol into your food plan!.
* Do not drive or plan to drive for several hours after you drink alcohol!.
Adapted from the book Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy!. Written by Hop
or
Alcohol Can Make Some Diabetic Problems Worse
Some people who have diabetes can safely drink moderate amounts of alcohol, but for others any amount of alcohol intake can have very negative health consequences!.
There are some circumstances under which diabetics should not drink alcohol in any amount!. The key for those with diabetes is to understand what conditions can be worsen if they consume alcohol!.
When Drinking Is Harmful
According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking alcohol is a poor choice if diabetics have the following conditions:
* Nerve damage in the arms or legs!.
* Diabetic eye disease!.
* High blood pressure!.
* High levels of triglycerides!.
Alcohol can damage nerve cells; even light drinking can cause nerve damage!. For diabetics with nerve damage drinking can increase the pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensation associated with diabetic nerve damage!.
For diabetics with eye disease symptoms, heavy drinking can make the condition worse and heavy drinking is defined as three or more drinks during one day!.
Diabetics who also have high blood pressure should also not drink alcohol!.
Alcohol can also increase the amount of triglycerides in the blood!. Even very light drinking, defined as two drinks a week, can increase triglyceride levels!. Diabetics who have high triglycerides should not drink alcohol at all!.
Risking Low Blood Sugar
Diabetics who take medication -- insulin shots or oral diabetes pills -- run the risk of low blood sugar levels if they drink alcohol!.
When blood sugar levels drop, the liver usually begins to produce glucose from stored carbohydrates to compensate!. But drinking alcohol blocks the liver's ability to produce glucose!.
The liver treats alcohol as a toxin and works to rid the body of alcohol as quickly as possible!. The liver will not produce glucose again until the alcohol has been processed and cleared from the body!.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics never drink on an empty stomach in order to protect themselves from low blood sugar -- drinking only after a meal or a snack!.
The association also recommends that diabetics who have had something to drink check their blood sugar before going to sleep!. And "eat a snack before you retire to avoid a low blood sugar reaction while you sleep!."
How Much Alcohol Is Okay!?
Diabetics taking medication to control blood sugar levels should first ask their doctor if it is okay to drink alcohol with their specific medication!.
For those taking medication, it is recommended to limit alcohol intake to one drink for women and two drinks for men!. Even two ounces of alcohol can interfere with the liver's ability to produce glucose!.
Because exercise can also decrease blood sugar levels -- because the liver takes glucose from the blood and sends it to the muscles -- drinking immediately following exercise is not recommended!.
For diabetics trying to control weight gain, drinking alcohol is not a wise choice!. Alcohol quickly adds calories to the diet without adding any nutritional value!. Even two light beers can add 200 calories!.
For type 2 diabetics, who control their diabetes with diet and exercise, rather than medication, drinking alcohol is less of a risk factor for low blood sugar!.
Source: American Diabetes AssociatioWww@Answer-Health@Com
It's actually not so much the carb in alcohol that is a problem, because you can inject insulin to cover that!. The real problem is that alcohol makes blood glucose dip really low a few hours after drinking it!. It takes some experimenting because everyone is different, but if you snack on some higher fat carb a couple hours after you drink (nuts, bread, etc!.), you can help offset that crash!. It's also important not to have more than a couple of drinks, because being too tipsy can mess up your judgement and you might not realize you're going low!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
im not suppose to drink on my meds!. metformin says on the label not to consume alcohol!. ive only been taking the meds for a few months now and i still drink but very very little!. i drink a couple beers here and there and when i know im doing this i make sure i have a granola bar or something on me in case i feel like my blood sugar is going low!. the most ive ever had at a time was like 4 beers in 3 hours!. no harm was done!. i dont drink everyday and i want to blend in and be as normal as possible with this disease!. whatever i do i keep the meter handy and i know my limits on what to eat and drink!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Alcohol dehydrates the body and the alcohol is stored in the liver as glycogen, but if enough is consumed, it goes directly into the blood stream from the stomach and increases the blood sugar level, creating a demand for insulin!. This can actually cause the body to go into shock, if enough is consumed!.
good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
Because alcohol stops the liver from giving you sugar!.!.!.!.so it causes the blood sugar to go DOWN!.
So if you drink alcohol, let's say at dinner time, your blood sugar may go dangerously low in the middle of the night!.
Or it may happen while you're driving!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
So if you drink alcohol, let's say at dinner time, your blood sugar may go dangerously low in the middle of the night!.
Or it may happen while you're driving!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
alcohols used to increase the rate of the growth of glucose in our body!.!.!.!. hence on the consumption of the alcohols at high extent can also leads to effect the person who were not earlier a diabeticWww@Answer-Health@Com
who says bad!? it will give quick relief from life!.
Diabetes is nothing but undigested sugar found in blood and urine!. What is alcohol!? nothing but corbohydrate or sugarWww@Answer-Health@Com
Diabetes is nothing but undigested sugar found in blood and urine!. What is alcohol!? nothing but corbohydrate or sugarWww@Answer-Health@Com
It stimulates the functions of the body and the ailing body could not cope-up with those and there are more chances of more damages than any benefit!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Alcohol actually can lower blood sugar!. No harm in a couple of beers or glasses of wine!.Too much and you really gain weight!.Moderation is the key!.
Cheers!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Cheers!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
for some people their sugar goes up when they drink!. for others, just the opposite!. I'll leave the debate about drinking beer to others!.!.!.
uurrp' !.!.!.!.oopps! ;-]Www@Answer-Health@Com
uurrp' !.!.!.!.oopps! ;-]Www@Answer-Health@Com
There are huge amounts of sugar in beers and spirits!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
shhh-ugggarWww@Answer-Health@Com
the sugar in itWww@Answer-Health@Com