can a person suffering from diabetes take alchohol?

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ALCOHOL AND YOUR DIABETES

CAN I STILL DRINK ALCOHOL?

A small amount of alcohol will do no harm and can be enjoyed.

Now you have diabetes, the general advice on drinking remains the same as for everyone else, but there are some precautions you should now take for your own safety and the safety of others.

HOW CAN ALCOHOL AFFECT DIABETES?

Alcohol and the Liver

Your liver is an important part of your body with many functions.
One of these is to store glucose and then release it into your bloodstream when your blood sugar level falls.
Your liver is unable to release glucose into your bloodstream if you have drunk too much alcohol.
Alcohol and Hypos

If your diabetes is treated with insulin or some types of tablets, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar levels to fall further and you may experience a low blood sugar reaction (a hypo)
Remember your judgement may be affected when you drink. You may not recognise that your blood glucose levels are low. Make sure that your friends know about hypos.
Hypoglycaemia and drunken behaviour can be confused with each other. Always wear or carry diabetes information (a bracelet, necklace or ID card).
Keep to sensible drinking levels.
You could alternate an alcoholic drink with a low calorie mixer.
Don't drink on an empty stomach - enjoy a meal before or with your drink.
You may need to eat a bigger, starchier meal and adjust your insulin before you drink.
Don't skip meals or substitute alcohol for meals
Eat little and often if you are drinking.
Always carry glucose tablets or sweets with you.
Remember hypos can happen some hours after a drinking session. Check your blood sugar level and always have a snack before you go to sleep.
Check your blood sugar level in the morning too.
Alcohol and Calories

Alcohol is high in calories e.g. a pint of ordinary beer contains 180 calories.
The number of calories in different drinks varies enormously (see chart)
Heavy drinkers can become overweight. Being overweight can cause your diabetes control to worsen leading to high blood sugar levels and poor health.
Alcohol is short of essential nutrients and vitamins important for health. Heavy drinkers can also suffer from malnutrition because they get their energy from alcohol rather than from food.
Alcohol and Diabetes Tablets

Some tablets for diabetes can cause flushing of the face when you drink alcohol. Check with your diabetes nurse or doctor if the tablets you take can cause these problems
Other Information About Alcohol

Extra strength lagers contain much more alcohol than ordinary lagers.
Low alcohol beers, lagers and ciders vary enormously in their alcohol content. They can be virtually alcohol free (0.05%) or contain 1/3 the amount of alcohol as similar drinks of ordinary strength. Low alcohol drinks tend to be higher in sugar than ordinary strength drinks.
Low sugar beers and lagers are higher in alcohol content and are not recommended (e.g. Diet Pils), especially if you are on insulin
Choose ordinary varieties of beer or lager.
Know your sensible drinking limits - see chart.
WHAT ARE SENSIBLE DRINKING LIMITS?

One unit of alcohol equals: Calories ABV
Half a pint of beer, lager or cider 90 3-3.5%
1 pub measure of spirit (rum, gin, whisky, vodka) 50 38%
(In Scotland a pub measure is 1½units!)
1 small glass of sherry 55 16%
1 standard glass of wine 75 11%
1 pub measure of aperitif or liqueur varies varies

A sensible drinking limit for people with (and without) diabetes is

For Men No more than 3 units per day = 21 units per week

For WomenNo more than 2 units per day = 14 units per week

SOME GENERAL ADVICE

Alcohol is not advised during pregnancy. It could harm your baby.
One or two alcohol-free days a week are a good habit for everyone.
If weight is a problem, limit your alcohol consumption to 1 unit per day.
Do not drink and drive

Remember

Some alcohol-free drinks may be high in glucose and calories.
Keep your alcohol intake down if you want to lose or maintain your weight - alcohol is high in calories.
Avoid drinks that are high in sugar (carbohydrate) e.g. sweet sherry, sweet wine and liqueurs.
Mixer drinks and soft drinks should be diet, sugar free or low calorie.
Choose ordinary varieties of beer and lager.
Low alcohol drinks may contain more alcohol than you think
Low alcohol beers or lagers tend to have a higher sugar content.
Low sugar beers or lagers tend to have a higher alcohol content.
DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE

Other Answers:
it's very bad for diabetes.

they shouldn't .but yes

alcohol is dangerous for non-dabetecs also.

it is suggested not to because the alchohol breaks down into sugar

Since alcohol is mostly sugar its not a good idea. My friend is a diabetic and she has a (one) drink about every two or three months.

You want to be quite careful. It's easy to figure in the sugar content of alcoholic drinks into your overall diet plan, but several of the newer diabetic medications are incompatable with alcohol. You probably know about the effect of alcohol on loosening inhibitions, especially those regarding food and drink.

It's not good for a diabetic to drink alchohol because it quickly turns into sugar.

It's on the list of things to eliminate from your diet...
But I know so many diabetics that still drink...
- some maybe too much...

Alcohol is converted to sugar and there is the mixer; so if a diabetic wants one drink occasionally he has to plan it into his diet.

No you should not however some Dr's say a drink once a week is OK or once a month is OK. Basically you control your sugar so an occassioanl drink with the OK from your physician should be alright, just remember never drink while taking your medications whether it be insulin or pills. Also keep in mind that drinking can put additional strain on your liver and kidneys which just speeds up the process of developing complications later. A common complication of Diabetes is Kidney Failure.

Yes, but in moderation. If you are drinking to get drunk, do not get so drunk that you will pass out. Monitor your blood sugar when you are drinking, as a low blood sugar will feel like you are getting a little more drunk and can sneak up on you. I check mine about every half an hour. Remember, you are drinking to have a good time, and if you wind up in an emergency room, that is NOT a good time. Beer and high carb drinks will raise your blood sugar, while hard liquor will lower it. Avoid sugar drinks like daiquiris and margaritas (rum and diet Coke is yummy, though).

i have diabetes n i drink anit nothin wrong there

I have Type 2 and I have been advised by my doctor to have a glass of wine (red) every night

The suffering will come after the drink! in sooo many ways. If you must have a drink make it count a good red wine.
but the hard stuff and beer should be forbidden. Remember that this diabetic stuff is a life long thing and I do mean L-o-n-g
live with it or you can drink it away.

you can drink diet coke or diet pepsi w/barcardi..no carbs and no sugar

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can a person suffering from diabetes take alchohol?

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