Diabetes & Alcohol

Here is a question I received from someone with diabetes wondering about whether they could still consume alcohol:

What are your comments about having a couple of glasses of red wine with supper? Cheers!

Answer: Having diabetes does not mean you have to give up alcohol, so long as your alcohol consumption is in moderation.

Moderation in alcohol terms equates to having 1 or less alcoholic beverage each day if you are a woman and 2 or less alcoholic beverages each day if you are a man.

You’ll also want to speak with your doctor about whether consuming alcohol is acceptable considering your specific health issues and medications you are taking.

Some research supports alcohol having protective benefits against heart disease. This is controversial because alcohol can be harmful as it increases risk for some cancers and adds empty calories to the diet.

Alcohol generally reduces blood sugar and can lead to hypoglycemia. Judgment can be affected when drinking and one may not be aware of hypoglycemic symptoms due to impairment from overindulging.

If you are going to have a drink, it is recommended you do so with a meal. Food aids in delaying absorption of alcohol.

You can learn more about diabetes by visiting the following link:

http://glucomenu.com/

GlucoMenu Newsletter

Here is a link to the most recent GlucoMenu Newsletter from November 30 - December 6, 2009. It includes a turkey panini recipe and diabetes related topics including grocery shopping, risk factors, and more.

http://www.glucomenu.com/newsletter/09/4709/