How Alcohol Can Affect Your Blood Sugar
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 34 million Americans (slightly over 1 in 10) have diabetes. An additional 88 million adults in America are prediabetic. This means that 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes. 90% of adults diagnosed with diabetes were overweight and 34% were physically inactive.
Despite these staggering numbers, many people still do not realize that they have the condition. Diabetes is a serious health problem that can lead to kidney disease and other life-threatening illnesses. One of the ways to lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes is by living a healthy lifestyle and managing your blood sugar levels.
Alcohol and Blood Sugar
One thing that may be deceiving is what can cause your blood sugar to go up or down. Alcohol for instance can affect our sugar levels. As noted on WebMD, alcohol can directly affect a person’s diabetes.
Alcohol can have one of two effects, both of which are dangerous. It can cause your blood sugar to rise, or it could cause it to fall which is particularly hazardous for individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
Many alcoholic drinks are high in carbohydrates which can raise blood sugar. Beer, sweet wines, and sugary mixed drinks can all have extraordinarily high carbohydrate contents. If you are monitoring your carbohydrate intake, you need to be sure to factor in any alcohol that you consume. One glass of beer or sweet wine could have 10 to 20g of carbs.
The Best Option
Sobriety is likely the best option for anyone struggling with diabetes. If you are having trouble stopping drinking after a diabetes diagnosis, there are options for treatment. It is important to get help early.