Type 2 diabetes is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an increase in blood sugar, a chronic disease that appears when the body is not able to use the insulin it produces correctly.
At first, symptoms can be very mild, making diagnosis and treatment difficultand involves the use of medications and habits that change daily life.
A recommendation from experts is to avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, as these can “lower or raise blood sugar, affect diabetes medications and possibly cause other problems”, they explain on the Business Insider website.
In the mentioned portal they warn that liquor should not be consumed without having eaten, since you can put yourself at higher risk for hypoglycemia in the evenings.
This occurs because the carbohydrates in food are converted into sugar, “which is transported in the blood to the cells to be used as a source of energy.”
Another recommendation they make in Business Insider is that the excess of beer consumption implies a danger for the organism when suffering from type 2 diabetes, since the body sees alcohol as a substance that must be processed quickly by the liver. The liver works to release glucose into the bloodstream as needed to keep blood sugar at a normal level.
When you drink beer, the liver tries to eliminate it, instead of regulating glucose. “Then, it becomes impossible for him to go from glycogen to glucose, which causes a rapid drop in sugar or glycemia,” he says. Business Insider.
In the portal DNA40 They point out that doctors point out that beer contains soluble fiber, minerals and polyphenols, but warn about its carbohydrate content, which could be dangerous for a person with diabetes because these break down into simple sugars.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a woman with diabetes can drink around one serving of 360 milliliters of beer a day, while a man can drink two servings,” he says. pick up the portal DNA40.
According to Medlineplus, the intake of spirits such as beer can cause weight gain in patients with diabetesdue to its high calorie content, “This makes diabetes more difficult to control.”
Experts say that calories from alcohol are stored in the liver as fat, which makes liver cells more resistant to insulin, and this can lead to increased blood sugar levels over time.
It is also important to take into account complications of diabetes, such as neurological damage, eye damage or kidney damage, as alcohol could worsen these complications. Faced with this condition, the doctor may suggest completely suspending the intake of liquor.
In Medline plus They advise that when the person decides to drink despite having type 2 diabetes, the best thing is a slow intake of liquor, It should also be mixed with water, soda and tonic water.
They also recommend carrying “a source of sugar, like glucose tablets, in case your blood sugar drops.”
When the following symptoms of low blood sugar occur after drinking beer, in Medline plus They recommend going to the doctor immediately:
- Double or blurred vision.
- Fast or pounding heartbeat.
- Feeling irritated or acting aggressively.
- feeling nervous
- Headache.
- Tremors or tremors.
- sweating
- Tingling or numbness of the skin.