People with diabetes must make changes in their lifestyle since they are diagnosed with this disease. Some modifications such as daily diet and other habits are essential to regulate high glucose levels and avoid health complications.
If medical recommendations or prompt treatment are not followed, diabetes can cause blindness, limb amputation, among other health conditions.
An important factor is alcohol intake. “In people with diabetes, drinking alcohol can lower or raise blood sugar, affect diabetes medications, and possibly cause other problems,” explains Medline Plus, the US National Library of Medicine website.
If you have diabetes and want to drink alcoholic beverages safely. Medline Plus provides some tips to keep in mind. It should be noted that a doctor should be consulted first.
- Diabetes must be controlled.
- A doctor must confirm that it is safe for the specific individual to drink alcohol.
- Women should not have more than 1 drink a day. It should be noted that one drink is equivalent to 12 ounces or 360 milliliters (mL) of beer (5% alcohol content); 5 ounces or 150 mL of wine (12% alcohol content); and 1.5-ounce or 45-mL shot of liquor (80 proof or 40% alcohol content).
- Men must have a maximum of 2 drinks a day.
For its part, Healthline, a specialized health website, points out several alcoholic beverages that may be one of the options (moderate consumption) that people with diabetes can choose to avoid putting their health at risk. “The risk of low blood sugar remains for hours after taking the last drink. The more you take, the greater the risk. This is why you should only drink alcohol in moderation and eat at the same time.”, highlights Medline Plus.
Wine is one of these drinks. According to the portal, taking it moderately is associated with health benefits such as a decreased risk of heart disease. “Among all types of wine, red wine is associated with the greatest health benefits, both for people with diabetes and the general population, due to its high antioxidant content,” explains Healthline.
The martini is also another option according to this website. This drink mixed with gin or vodka with dry vermouth can be ingested by people with diabetes. “Since it contains no juice or other mixers, it contains 0.2 grams of total carbohydrates in a 4-ounce (120-mL) drink. This makes it a good option for people with diabetes, as long as it is drunk in moderation.
Types of diabetes
There are different types of diabetes:
- Diabetes type 1: this type of diabetes is the least common. It can occur at any age, but it is usually suffered by children, adolescents or young adults. It is characterized by a deficient production of insulin, the body does not produce or produces in minimal amounts.
- Type 2 diabetes: This type of diabetes is the most common. It usually occurs in adulthood (overweight), however it is now increasingly occurring in children. In this disease the body is resistant to insulin and does not use it as it should.
- Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes appears in pregnancy. This disease increases the risk of complications in childbirth. At the same time that the mother and child develop type 2 diabetes in the future.