Can diabetics drink alcohol?

I have had diabetes for three years and take medication regularly. Can I have a few glasses of beer or wine during the holidays when my family gets together? (Hong Dang, 35 years old)

Reply:

Spring parties bring a joyful atmosphere to the family. However, drinking beer and wine in particular and alcoholic beverages in general are not good for people with diabetes.

Alcohol can affect the effects of diabetes medications (such as insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs), negatively impacting the disease management plan, causing abnormally high or low blood sugar leading to dangerous complications.

People who drink alcohol for a long time, along with unscientific and uncontrolled eating, excess energy, and do not take medication as directed by the doctor can increase blood sugar. On the contrary, diabetics who abuse alcohol but do not eat properly, especially when malnourished for a long time, can have severe hypoglycemia.

Alcohol also damages the liver - the main organ responsible for detoxification and energy storage in the body. When blood sugar levels are low, glycogen stored in the liver is broken down into glucose and released as energy. A liver damaged by alcohol abuse cannot perform its task of supplying sugar to the body when hypoglycemia occurs, leading to more serious progression.

Beer and alcohol affect blood sugar. Photo: Freepik — Beer and alcohol affect blood sugar. Photo: *Freepik*

In some cases, alcohol causes a buildup of acid in the blood (also known as acidosis), which can be life-threatening. Drinking too much of this beverage can also worsen diabetes-related complications such as dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, nerve damage, and diabetic eye disease.

Alcohol intoxication and hypoglycemia have similar symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, behavioral disorders, coma, convulsions... if not detected promptly, they can be dangerous to health.

To maintain good health, patients should not consume alcoholic beverages. In case of having to drink alcohol, patients should closely monitor blood sugar before and after to ensure the index is at a safe level.

Do not drink on an empty stomach to minimize the negative effects of alcohol on the body and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. Avoid drinking alcohol while participating in running or jumping activities because it can easily cause hypoglycemia.

Master, Doctor Tran Dinh Manh Long
Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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