Update: July 30, 2025, 11:03 AM
Alcohol is a chemical substance with complex effects on the human body. Its consumption causes fluctuations in blood glucose levels, which is why many people with diabetes believe it is completely prohibited for their health condition. What is the truth? Can a diabetic drink alcohol?
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Diabetes and Alcohol – Why Shouldn't Diabetics Drink?
Diabetes is a disease in which adhering to a proper diet and minimizing the intake of easily digestible carbohydrates is extremely important. Alcohol is not categorically forbidden for diabetics, but its consumption should be very cautious to avoid unwanted side effects. Diabetes complications that can occur due to drinking alcoholic beverages include:- Nerve cell damage causing pain, burning, and numbness in the body
- Increased blood pressure
- Retinopathy, an eye disorder
- Those with uncontrolled diabetes
- Those with advanced diabetic complications
- Those suffering from uncontrolled hypertension
- Those with hyperthyroidism
- Those with adrenal insufficiency
- Those with high triglyceride levels
- Those who have had pancreatitis
Alcohol and Type 2 Diabetes
In the case of type 2 diabetes, the Polish Diabetes Association strongly advises against consuming any amounts of alcohol. People suffering from this form of diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic complications as a result of alcohol consumption. One of the more common complications in type 2 diabetics is alcohol-induced retinopathy, which causes progressively worsening vision impairment. See also: Alcohol Implant – Truths and MythsEffect of Alcohol on Blood Sugar Levels
What is the relationship between glucose and alcohol? Alcohol is a substance that affects human blood glucose levels. Depending on the situation and amount consumed, it causes glucose to rise or fall, which can have disastrous consequences for a diabetic.Effect of Alcohol on Raising Blood Sugar Levels
The glycemic index is an indicator that determines how quickly a given product will raise the blood sugar level of the person consuming it. A glycemic index below 55 points is considered low, between 55 and 69 points is considered medium, and an index exceeding 70 points is considered high. The reference point for all products is glucose itself, whose glycemic index value is exactly 100 points. So does alcohol raise sugar? When the glycemic index of consumed alcohol is high, the diabetic experiences a sudden increase in blood sugar levels, which brings certain health consequences.Effect of Alcohol on Lowering Blood Sugar Levels
The human body recognizes ethanol as a toxin that must be removed at all costs. This means that as a result of alcohol consumption, the liver focuses entirely on attempts to eliminate it, neglecting other functions, including supplying sugar to the blood. This leads to severe hypoglycemia and a sudden drop in blood glucose levels. This condition is particularly dangerous when hypoglycemia is accompanied by physical exertion. This combination completely deprives the body of energy and can result in fainting.Does Alcohol Interact with Antidiabetic Medications?
Some medications taken by diabetics lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to secrete more insulin. Combining alcohol with a blood sugar-lowering medication can result in hypoglycemia, which can persist for up to 24 hours after ethanol consumption. In other cases, drinking alcohol while taking diabetes medications can affect their effectiveness, also leading to unwanted side effects.Alcohol and Ketoacidosis
Alcohol consumption can cause the occurrence of ketoacidosis in diabetics – a diabetes complication that occurs due to insulin deficiency in the body. This condition is life-threatening and requires hospital treatment. Symptoms of ketoacidosis may vary depending on the patient's age, duration of the disease, presence of diabetic complications, and the rate of metabolic disturbances. The most common symptoms of this disease are:- Excessive thirst
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Increased urine output
- Dehydration
- Consciousness disorders
How Much Can a Diabetic Drink?
The Polish Diabetes Association recognizes that the permissible amount of alcohol consumed per day by a person with diabetes is the same as for healthy people. For women, this amount is 20 g of pure ethyl alcohol per day, while for men it is 30 g. See also: Alcohol Delirium – How Long Does It Last?What Alcohol for Diabetics?
What determines which beverage is healthiest for a diabetic is mainly the glycemic index of the alcohol, or in simplified terms, the sugar content in alcohol.Beer and Diabetes
The glycemic index value for beer is as high as 110 points, meaning this beverage exceeds glucose itself in this regard. This means that its consumption causes a sudden increase in blood sugar levels, which is an unfavorable phenomenon for diabetics. People with diabetes should therefore definitely avoid drinking beer.Vodka and Diabetes
Vodka has an extremely low glycemic index, assuming a value of 0. However, it is often mixed with sweet drinks that can lead to sugar overdose. Drunk in pure form, in small amounts, it is less harmful to a diabetic than beer.Whisky and Diabetes
Similar to vodka, whisky also has a low glycemic value, which means that its responsible consumption should not carry side effects.Diabetes and Wine
In the case of wine, the glycemic index depends on the sweetness of the beverage. Sweet wines have a higher glycemic index than semi-sweet wines, these higher than semi-dry wines, and these in turn higher than dry wines, which are considered the healthiest alcohol for diabetics. When suffering from diabetes, it's worth consulting a doctor before drinking alcohol.Which Alcohol Contains No Sugar?
Alcohols that do not contain sugar are some high-proof spirits, including:- Spirit
- Vodka (except flavored vodkas)
- Tequila
- Rum
- Gin
Sugar Content in Selected Alcoholic Beverages
| Beverage | Sugar (g/100 ml) | Sugar (g/L) | |----------|------------------|-------------| | Lager / Light Beer | 0 – 0.3 | 0 – 3 | | Sweet Cider (commercial) | 3 – 8 | 30 – 80 | | Red Wine – Dry | 0.1 – 0.4 | 1 – 4 | | White Wine – Semi-dry | 1 – 3.5 | 10 – 35 | | Sparkling Wine Brut | 0 – 1.2 | 0 – 12 | | Tokaji Aszú (5 Puttonyos) | ≈ 12 | ≈ 120 | | Port (Ruby / Tawny) | 8 – 12 | 80 – 120 | | Sherry Cream | 11 – 14 | 110 – 140 | | Sake | 4 – 5 | 40 – 50 | | Sweetened Rum | 1.7 – 2.2 | 17 – 22 | | Pure Distillates (vodka, whisky, gin) | < 0.1 | < 1 | | Coffee Liqueurs (Kahlúa) | ≈ 39 | ≈ 390 | | Irish Cream (Baileys) | ≈ 18 | ≈ 180 | Approximate values based on manufacturer declarations and laboratory analyses (2019–2024). Individual brands may differ in sugar levels depending on recipe and vintage.Can Alcohol Cause Diabetes?
There is another relationship between diabetes and alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages has a negative effect on the liver, which is forced to constantly metabolize this substance, as well as on the pancreas, where inflammatory states frequently occur. Chronic inflammation of this organ can cause damage to beta cells responsible for insulin release, which may lead to the development of alcoholic diabetes. Due to its high caloric content, alcohol can also lead to obesity, which is one of the causes of type 2 diabetes development.:::cta Need help fighting addiction? Our specialists are ready to help you. Call or schedule an online visit. Call: 880 808 880 | Schedule Visit :::
