Of course, alcohol can have a strong effect on anyone's body - it's a powerful and often abused drug. Alcohol is not broken down in the stomach but moves quickly into the bloodstream. Five minutes after drinking one drink, there is enough alcohol in your blood to measure. The alcohol will reach its highest level 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours after it is consumed. Alcohol is broken down in the liver. This can be a slow process - that's why advice to people regarding drunk driving often suggests waiting an hour before driving for every drink. Actually, it takes approximately 2 hours for a 150 pound person to metabolize one beer! When alcohol is consumed too quickly for the liver to break down, it travels to other parts of the body, such as brain cells. Hence, a "buzzed" feeling.
Should people with diabetes "just say no"? Not necessarily. You are probably able to enjoy alcohol in moderation safely. The American Diabetes Association states that alcohol used in moderation (this means two drinks per day for males, one per day for females), and served with food is not usually harmful for persons with well-controlled diabetes who have no health problems that could be worsened by drinking alcohol.
How does alcohol affect blood glucose control?
Your liver sees alcohol as a poison, and desires to get rid of it as quickly as possible. When your liver is busy cleaning up alcohol, it "ignores" certain other jobs, such as converting stored carbohydrates into glucose. This means that for the hours the alcohol remains in your body the only glucose you'll be getting is from the food you eat. This can lead to some dangerous lows for people whose diabetes is controlled with medications such as insulin. Mixing alcohol with exercise (such as dancing in a club or playing volleyball on the beach) can make this worse. Of course, low blood sugar is less of a risk if your diabetes is controlled through diet and exercise alone.
If you have reason to be concerned about lows caused by drinking, what can you do? First, talk with your health care provider about your specific needs and how drinking alcohol may affect the medications you take. Second, drink in moderation and with food. Nurse one or two drinks all night. Start out on a full stomach, and make sure you have high carb snacks while you drink. Try to stick with drinks that have a lower alcohol and sugar content - for example, light beer (lower alcohol, usually) and dry wine (lower sugar). Try mixing your own drink if possible, to give your self more control over the situation. Remember that the signs of low blood sugar are often confused with intoxication, so wear an ID that says you have diabetes - it could save your life if you have a low. Don't drink and drive, ever. Finally, continue checking your glucose and making sure you have enough to eat even hours after drinking. Remember that it can take your liver a long time to finish clearing alcohol from your body.
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