Alcohol in diabetes

The easiest way to limit the diet for diabetes is people who do not drink alcohol. And, if there is such an opportunity, it is better to abandon alcohol, since diabetes and alcohol are poorly compatible things. Doctors are strongly opposed to drinking alcohol, but they are obliged to give detailed instructions on how to prevent complications if alcohol had a place to be.

Any alcohol is considered a product of energy value. This is what scares diabetics, they calculate the amount of insulin with a margin for alcohol and get the opposite effect. The fact is that in strong drinks and dry wines there is almost no sugar, and alcohol itself blocks the flow of glucose into the blood, that is, even with the usual dose of insulin its level drops sharply. And if the patient increased the dosage, then it can provoke a hypoglycemic coma.

How does alcohol affect carbohydrate metabolism

Ethanol from the bloodstream enters the liver and blocks glycogen synthesis. And, the greater the dose of alcohol or the longer the libation, the longer the delay. At these moments, a deficiency of blood sugar begins, and even the intake of sugars and glucose-containing products can not always normalize the situation.

Another danger is that hypoglycemia can be delayed, that is, come after the guests dispersed. And in a state of intoxication, it is easy to confuse it with ordinary drowsiness. In addition, diabetics get drunk much faster and from smaller doses. If in healthy people, eating reduces the rate of absorption of alcohol, then in diabetics the opposite is true – until alcohol is processed, carbohydrate metabolism is blocked. A coma may occur suddenly, and drinking companions simply cannot be able to help, at most they will take them to another room to rest. 

Diabetic Guide

Some nutritionists allow no more than 1 serving of dry wine per month, but only for patients with stable rates and the absence of complications. Warning in this case that when drowsiness occurs, it is better to immediately measure the level of sugar in the blood, and if it turns out to be low, call an ambulance. Before taking an ambulance, you should dissolve glucose tablets or sugar under the tongue. This is the only place in the digestive tract from where the substances are immediately absorbed by the blood and there is the possibility of preventing severe hypoglycemia.

Alcohol is nothing more than a ritual 

Immediately after a diagnosis is made, it can be difficult for people to rebuild their lifestyle and abandon the usual foods and rituals. But a series of hypoglycemic conditions leads to the fact that a person chooses to follow a diet, because alcohol is nothing more than a ritual. And with a healthy lifestyle, it is easy to replace it with others. And friends, most often inviting a diabetic to the festive table, try to adapt to his lifestyle – without unduly seducing dangerous snacks, dishes and alcohol. 

When to call a doctor

If it turned out that there was a diabetic among the guests at the table and he drank alcohol, you should carefully consider his condition. So, the degree of intoxication not corresponding to the drunk indicates the onset of a hypoglycemic crisis. Confusion, a shaky gait, incoherent speech and a desire to sleep after 1-3 servings of alcohol clearly indicate an extremely low blood sugar level. Do not hesitate to call an ambulance, and before the brigade arrives, try to keep the person conscious – talk to him, ask questions. And remember, a diet for diabetes involves a complete rejection of alcohol.