Can diabetics drink alcohol?

Is alcohol good or bad for you? Over the years, many people as well as health specialists have spoken for and against it. Our myths and legends tell us of Gods and warriors who drank it while other stories tell of the evils that befell from drinking it. Whatever its moral reputation may be, the fact remains, that alcohol is here to stay.

Recent research has shown that drinking some amount of alcohol can have health benefits. The secret lies in the type, quantity and frequency with which alcohol is consumed. However, if a person has been a teetotaler all their life, beginning to drink just for the sake of alcohol’s health benefits is not recommended.  A study published in the journal Diabetologia, revealed that drinking alcohol three or four days a week was associated with a lower diabetes risk, taking the average weekly alcohol consumption into consideration as compared to drinking less than one day a week. The study also showed that different types of alcohol were linked to different levels of risk with wine hypothesized to be more beneficial because of its polyphenols, as it may help to controlling sugar levels, thus lowering a person’s risk for diabetes as compared to other alcoholic beverages.

However, a person with diabetes needs to be careful of what kind of alcohol they drink, when they drink it and in what quantity and with how much frequency. Among diabetics, moderate alcohol consumption can cause the blood sugar level to rise while excessive consumption can cause it to fall. Beer and wine, both, may raise blood sugar levels due to their carbohydrate content.  Alcohol can also stimulate the appetite which can cause a person to eat more and/or make unhealthy eating choices. It can also interfere with the effects of oral diabetes medication or insulin. Thus, when it comes to diabetes, it is always safer to first consult your doctor about what you can drink and then do so responsibly. An apple a day may keep the doctor away but too much alcohol may make him stay!