Alcohol and Diabetes: How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Sugar? Learn More

Glucagon kits, widely used to treat hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes, do not work if someone has alcohol in their system. Verywell Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. The safest way to avoid any of the potential risks of alcohol and diabetes is to avoid using alcohol altogether. Blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is sugar that’s carried to the cells through the bloodstream.

In fact, you may be surprised by how much a single drink can affect your blood sugar. Some studies have found that substituting sugar-sweetened food and beverages with those that have been artificially sweetened may not be as beneficial as once thought. This may be especially true when artificial sweeteners are consumed in large amounts. The risk for low blood sugar remains for hours after you take your last drink. The more drinks you have at one time, the higher your risk. This is why you should only drink alcohol with food and drink only in moderation.

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One serving of sugar alcohol should not cause much distress. Consider some of the potential downsides and side effects before making a decision about including sugar alcohols in your diet. Maltitol has 75% of the blood sugar impact of table sugar, but also only 75% of the sweetness. Maltitol is commonly used in hard candy, chewing gum, ice cream, chocolate-flavored desserts, and nutrition bars because of its appealing taste and texture.

• For example, Truvia brand sweetener combines erythritol with stevia to get a level of sweetness that works well in recipes.
• However, natural sugar can be eaten in small amounts as part of a healthy eating plan.
• Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
• The American Diabetes Association suggests you use it in coffee, tea, cereal, or on fruit.
• If you found this guide to sugar alcohols and diabetes useful, please sign up for our newsletter using the form below.

Therefore, the World Health Organization issued nutritional guidelines not only to reduce the consumption of added sugars but also to reduce the daily energy intake from refined sugar . This has led to the identification of modifiable diets and lifestyle factors for the prevention and better management of diabetes . A growing interest in products sweetened with sugar alcohols in the market has transpired, targeted towards people with diabetes . Studies have suggested that sugar alcohols have the ability to alter the nutritional adequacy of a diet since they have lower energy values due to the way they are metabolized . Therefore, these sugar substitutes are useful in the maintenance of a nutritionally balanced diet for diabetic individuals .

Are there side effects from sugar alcohol? Are they different if you have diabetes?

If your recipe is for a beverage or a sweet sauce, you may notice that sugar alcohols alcohol and diabetes don’t blend well. For example, erythritol may cause a grainy texture in liquids.

Drinks such as vodka, beer or gin will not contain any sugar, while other drinks such as mimosas, martinis and wine all do contain sugar. Anyone drinking an alcoholic beverage will need to look at the nutritional facts on specific beverages to know how much sugar they contain. Alcohol can increase and decrease blood sugar levels to dangerous levels if you have diabetes. Do not drink on an empty stomach or when blood sugar levels are low. Liquid sugars are quickly absorbed by the body, so those carbs won’t be much help in preventing or treating a low that may occur hours after you drink. Food, on the other hand, is digested gradually, so it provides better protection against lows.

Beverage Dos and Don’ts for Diabetes

When drinking alcohol is combined with the medications most often used to treat diabetes—particularly insulin and sulfonylureas, low blood sugar can result. While a glass of wine with dinner probably isn’t a big deal, a mojito on an empty stomach at happy hour is.

• Bornet FRJ, Blayo A, Dauchy F, Slama G. Gastrointestinal response and plasma and urine determinations in human subjects given erythritol.
• Artificial sweeteners may be synthetically made or made from regular sugar via a chemical process.
• It’s particularly important for those following this diet to steer clear of sugar alcohols.
• Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention.
• If you choose to imbibe, do so in small quantities, especially because alcohol can cause blood sugar fluctuations, notes theAmerican Diabetes Association .

Lactitol is an odourless white crystalline powder with a sweetness that is 30–40% of sucrose . It has an anhydrous form which is applicable in case of moisture-sensitive products. If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar to either rise or fall. Remember that because sugar alcohols are harder for your body to digest, eating too many sugar alcohols may cause digestive complaints like gas, cramping and diarrhea. When deciding if sugar alcohols have a place in your diet, talk with your doctor or a dietitian about your overall health, your eating habits and if sugar alcohols are OK for you.