Key Points:

  • Most people with diabetes can safely drink alcohol in moderation.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to significant health conditions, complications, and social consequences.
  • Hypoglycemia is a serious acute complication of drinking alcohol, especially when alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach.
  • Hyperglycemia can also occur due to drinking alcoholic beverages high in carbohydrates and eating higher-carb foods at the same time.
  • Heavy drinking can worsen diabetes complications, such as heart disease, neuropathy, and liver disease, and can also lead to weight gain.
  • Talk with your healthcare team about how to safely drink alcohol in moderation to avoid worsening diabetes management or leading to complications.
Glass of alcohol on a table and person checking their blood sugar

If you ask someone why they drink alcohol, they might tell you it helps them unwind and relax after a busy day or week. They may also share that drinking boosts their mood or helps them feel less depressed or sad. And let’s not overlook the fact that alcohol is often consumed in social settings, such as parties and other celebrations. 

According to a July 2023 Gallup survey, 62 percent of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol. Breaking that down further, middle-aged adults in the U.S. who are college graduates and have a higher income are more likely to drink.

But if you have diabetes, is it safe to drink alcohol, like a glass of champagne at a wedding or a beer while watching a football game? The short answer is yes. However, there are certain factors to consider before you drink alcohol.

This article will examine how alcohol affects blood sugar levels and how people with diabetes can safely drink alcohol.

Table of Contents

How does alcohol affect your blood sugar?

Having diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t drink alcohol. But it does mean that you need to be smart about drinking.

Moderate alcohol intake may help to slightly lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and improve insulin sensitivity. This effect is typically observed with moderate consumption, which can enhance insulin action and reduce blood glucose levels.

However, alcohol can have a negative impact on blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes if not consumed responsibly. Actions such as excessive drinking or drinking on an empty stomach can lead to both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) shortly after drinking and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) later on. 

Additionally, alcohol may interact with diabetes medications, further complicating blood sugar management.

Low blood sugars (hypoglycemia)

Shortly after drinking an alcoholic beverage (especially on an empty stomach), blood sugar levels may drop. That’s because the liver is busy processing the alcohol and not paying attention to blood sugar levels, so it stops releasing glucose. 

Because of this action, blood sugar levels can drop too low and, sometimes, too quickly. People who take insulin or diabetes pills called sulfonylureas are more likely to experience low blood sugars compared with people who take metformin or other types of diabetes medicines. 

Low blood sugar symptoms, which may include slurred speech, behavior changes, drowsiness, or difficulty walking, are also symptoms of drinking too much alcohol. If you need assistance in treating a low blood sugar in this situation, the concern is that others with you may not realize that your blood sugar is low and that you need help.

Other concerns around drinking alcohol and low blood sugars include:

  • Hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which you don’t feel typical symptoms of low blood sugar. This means that you may not realize that you need to treat the low.
  • Low blood sugars that occur hours after your last drink (and that keep occurring, as well).

Drinking too much alcohol can be especially concerning if you have ever used glucagon to treat hypoglycemia. Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood sugars and is often used in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes who take insulin when they are unable to swallow liquid or food because of low blood sugar symptoms. 

Giving glucagon nasally or by injection may not work to raise your blood sugar if you have been drinking alcohol (especially if you have been drinking excessively). That’s because your liver isn’t paying attention to releasing glucose — it’s busy detoxifying the alcohol. 

High blood sugars (hyperglycemia)

While alcohol may lead to an initial drop in blood sugars, you may also find that drinking alcohol leads to an increase in blood sugars. Here’s why:

  • Some alcoholic beverages, especially mixed drinks, are high in carbohydrates (carbs). For example, a 6-ounce chocolate martini contains 33 grams of carbs and a 12-ounce piña colada can have as much as 85 grams of carbs.
  • You may drink alcohol while eating high-carb foods, especially if you are at a party or special event, such as a wedding.
  • Alcohol may interact with diabetes medicines putting you at risk for either low or high blood sugars, depending on the type of medicine you take and how much alcohol you drink.

Read more in: The Best and Worst Alcoholic Drinks for People With Diabetes.

Managing blood glucose when drinking

To better manage your blood glucose levels when drinking, consider the following steps:

  • Wear a medical ID: Let people know that you have diabetes, especially if you need assistance due to hypoglycemia.
  • Educate others: Teach someone you’re with about the signs of low blood sugar and how to help you treat it.
  • Use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM): Using a CGM can help you monitor your blood sugar levels more effectively, especially if you consume alcohol regularly.
  • Have trained assistance: If possible, be with someone who has CPR, AED, and first aid training.

What happens in the body when you drink alcohol?

Alcohol (also called ethanol) is processed in the body through a series of steps. When you drink an alcoholic beverage, the alcohol in that drink is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestines into the bloodstream.

How fast alcohol is absorbed depends on how much alcohol is in the drink, the presence of food in the stomach, and other factors, such as body weight and metabolism. 

Once in the bloodstream, alcohol travels to every part of the body, affecting organs and tissues. The brain is especially affected by alcohol, where the substance can impact neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other) and lead to changes in behavior. 

Meanwhile, the liver kicks in to break down and detoxify alcohol, as alcohol is a potentially toxic substance. Enzymes break apart alcohol molecules, eventually converting by-products of alcohol metabolism into water and carbon dioxide. From there, alcohol is eliminated from the body through exhalation, sweat, and urine. 

How does drinking alcohol affect your health?

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health eloquently states, “It’s safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison.” Why is this? Much of alcohol’s harmful effects are based on the dose — meaning, how much alcohol a person drinks. 

Moderate drinking is defined as:

  • Up to one drink per day for women
  • Up to two drinks per day for men

Heavy or excessive drinking is defined as:

  • Eight or more drinks per week for women
  • Fifteen or more drinks per week for men

One drink is:

  • 12 ounces of beer (regular or light)
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1.5 ounces of spirits (gin, whiskey, vodka, rum)

While drinking in moderation is believed to be safe for most people, heavy drinking can lead to short-term health risks, such as:

  • Injuries (car accidents, falls, drownings, burns)
  • Violence
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Weight gain

Longer-term consequences of excess alcohol intake can lead to chronic diseases and other problems:

Of note, alcohol affects women differently than men. Why? Women tend to be smaller than men and have less total body water and more total body fat. Because of this, blood alcohol concentration rises faster and stays higher longer in women than men. Consequently, women are more susceptible to long-term health problems due to alcohol than men.

Some health experts and health organizations (including the World Health Organization) state that no amount of alcohol is safe for health. 

But some research points to moderate alcohol intake as possibly protecting against heart disease by increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol, reducing plaque buildup in arteries, and preventing blood clots. Moderate drinking may even lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

What are other risks of drinking alcohol if you have diabetes?

Along with the higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer, drinking alcohol can lead to other health issues for people with diabetes.

Weight gain

Weight gain is a possibility if you drink alcohol excessively. While a 12-ounce bottle of light beer that contains 100 calories every now and then is unlikely to lead to weight gain, drinking several bottles at one sitting and over the course of a week can quickly add up in calories.

If your drink of preference leans towards fruity or highly sweetened cocktails, on the other hand, even a couple of these drinks enjoyed regularly can contribute to weight gain. For reference, a margarita can weigh in at upwards of 300 calories and a White Russian may contain approximately 400 calories.

See more in: How Many Calories and Carbs Are There in Different Types of Alcohol?

Drinking alcohol may also cause an increase in hunger, thanks to its effect on certain hormones and neurotransmitters. This means that you may be less likely to make healthy food choices and/or limit portions when you drink alcohol.

Ultimately, weight gain can lead to insulin resistance and higher blood sugars, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. 

Liver disease

Liver diseases can stem from a variety of factors including having too much weight around your midsection, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Also, blood sugar levels that stay high over a long period of time can cause liver damage.

Excess alcohol intake also impacts liver health, leading to conditions such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. 

If you have diabetes and have any type of liver disease, your risk of having further liver problems is greatly increased. This is because both diabetes and liver disease can exacerbate each other’s effects, leading to a more rapid progression of liver damage.

Neuropathy

Certain diabetes complications, such as neuropathy (nerve damage) may be worsened by drinking alcohol. 

Symptoms like numbness, tingling, and pain are common in neuropathy caused by both diabetes and alcohol, and they can be nearly indistinguishable from one another. According to a study published in 2021 in the journal Diabetes Therapy, nerve damage will continue to progress if a person with neuropathy continues to drink alcohol. 

How to drink alcohol safely if you have diabetes

If you currently drink alcohol or aren’t sure if alcohol is safe for you to drink, it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits. Your provider should consider your overall health, how well your diabetes is managed, medications that you are taking, and other health issues you may have.

Many health experts agree that people with diabetes can drink alcohol — in moderation. Here are additional steps that you can take to ensure that you stay safe if you choose to drink:

  • Avoid drinking alcohol if you are pregnant, if you are younger than age 21, or if you have health conditions including alcohol use disorder, liver disease, pancreatitis, heart disease, certain digestive diseases, and some mental health disorders. 
  • Avoid drinking alcohol if your blood sugar is low or if you are at a higher risk for low blood sugars.
  • If your blood sugars fluctuate often, say, due to starting a new diabetes medicine, or making changes to your eating or physical activity plan, it may be best to avoid alcohol until your blood sugars stabilize.
  • Steer clear of binge drinking, defined as drinking five or more drinks on an occasion for men or four or more drinks on an occasion for women.
  • Be careful with drinking if you have been exercising or physically active. The combination of exercise and drinking alcohol greatly increases the risk for hypoglycemia.
  • If you do drink, do so in moderation and always drink alcohol with a meal or a snack that contains carbohydrates, especially if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea. Don’t drink on an empty stomach.
  • Choose alcoholic beverages wisely. Better choices include light beer, white, red, or sparkling wine, or distilled spirits (gin, vodka, rum) with ice or mixed with water, sparkling water, or diet soda. 
  • Drink slowly, and if you are planning on having an additional drink, alternate your drinks with water or sparkling water.
  • If you are at risk for low blood sugars, always carry a source of fast-acting carbs with you, such as glucose tablets or glucose gel.
  • Wear or carry a medical ID to let people know that you have diabetes, especially if you need assistance due to hypoglycemia.
  • If you are with other people and plan to drink, let someone know that you have diabetes in case you need assistance.
  • Monitor your blood sugars closely before, during, and after you drink alcohol, especially before you go to bed.
  • If you take insulin, talk with your healthcare team or diabetes educator about how and when to adjust your insulin doses, if needed, when you drink alcohol. This is particularly important if you have low blood glucose levels overnight after drinking. 
  • If eligible, consider using a CGM if you consume alcohol regularly, as it can help you manage your blood sugar levels more effectively.

Managing alcohol and diabetes

Most people with diabetes can drink alcohol, but it’s important to understand how alcohol impacts your blood sugars, as well as other health conditions you may have.

Being safe when you drink alcohol involves some planning. This means deciding what and how much you will drink, eating when you drink alcohol, carrying treatment for hypoglycemia, and monitoring your glucose levels. 

Reach out to your healthcare team if you have questions or concerns about drinking alcohol and its effect on your diabetes or other health conditions.

Learn more about alcohol and diabetes in The Best and Worst Alcoholic Drinks for People With Diabetes and How Many Calories and Carbs Are There in Different Types of Alcohol? Did you find this article helpful? Click Yes or No below to let us know!