For someone who has diabetes, understanding how alcohol affects your body is crucial. Being diabetic isn’t a life sentence that leads to more hardships, but it is a condition that requires serious lifestyle changes. Diabetics who enjoy an occasional drink should learn everything about diabetes and alcohol.
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes develop a complex relationship with food and drinks, since it affects their bodies differently. Alcohol also falls in this category. Studies have shown that almost 30% of all habitual alcohol drinkers may also suffer from issues in glucose metabolism, with most of them being women.
The goal of this article is to explore how alcohol affects people with diabetes.
Can Alcohol Cause Diabetes?
Many people who suffer from diabetes consider happy hour and grabbing a drink after work as something from the past. In actuality, most diabetics stop drinking alcohol entirely as recommended by their doctor.
But can drinking alcohol cause diabetes, if it is moderate?
The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, because more factors come into play. Alcohol, in a moderate manner, has a lower chance of causing diabetes, but it’s never a sole contender. Combined with other lifestyle habits, the risk is higher.
For example, lovers of good wine love pairing it with a rich red meat, but do they know that even consuming too much red meat can cause diabetes? Yes – A study done by Harvard University with 216,000 people found out that regular consumers of red meat were at a 64% higher risk of developing diabetes. Read more about that subject here.
While having a drink from time to time is not a direct cause of diabetes, chronic alcohol overconsumption and heavy drinking are known for damaging the pancreas and impairing insulin production. This is a condition known as alcohol-induced diabetes.
Diabetes from Alcohol Abuse
Overconsumption of alcohol is a very big public health problem, and many healthcare providers and companies are trying to raise awareness of all the negative sides that too much alcohol can have. In 2023, the NIH (National Institute on alcohol abuse and Alcoholism) recorded that 84% of people over eighteen years of age have tried alcohol in their lives – that percentage in numbers is 218.7 million people!
When talking about diabetes and alcoholism, we already mentioned the condition called alcohol-induced diabetes. This condition doesn’t happen overnight. Diabetes occurs only after the pancreas has been damaged so much that there aren’t enough cells that produce insulin, and before that, there are other symptoms, such as:
- An increase in insulin resistance
- A buildup of fats on the liver (fatty liver disease)
- Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the body
The top tier of prediabetic conditions is an inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis leads to low insulin production because of a low number of healthy beta-cells.
This is the most common foreword condition in alcoholics that leads to developing diabetes. Almost 20% of all heavy drinkers become diabetic as a result of the damage the alcohol does to the pancreas.
How Many Carbs Are in Alcohol?
The number of carbohydrates in alcohol varies from drink to drink. It’s a general rule that sweet drinks contain the most carbs and that they are a danger zone for diabetics, while “easier” drinks such as beer are acceptable.
Here are the most common alcoholic drinks and how many carbs they contain per their normal serving:
- Light beer: 3-6 grams
- Regular beer: 10-13 grams
- Wine: 3-5 grams
- Sweet wine (sangria): 10-20 grams
- Distilled spirits (vodka, gin, rum): 0 grams
- Liquors: 15-30 grams
- Cocktails: 20-50 grams or more
Type 1 Diabetes and Alcohol
People who suffer from type 1 Diabetes are at a higher risk of developing certain symptoms when consuming alcohol. Because of the way this condition affects the body, type 1 diabetes and alcohol death are at a higher rate than with type 2 diabetes.
When they consume alcohol, it prevents the liver from releasing glucose. Those low glucose levels can lead to the individual becoming hypoglycemic, and combined with insulin therapy, can lead to severe hypoglycemia.
The symptoms of alcohol intake and hypoglycemia are very similar, so they usually get masked, for example:
- Impaired judgment: This is a common symptom of intoxication, so rarely will someone consider it a sign of hypoglycemia.
- Slow responses
- Dizziness
Aside from hypoglycemia, people with type 1 diabetes can enter ketoacidosis. Although it’s rare and happens in cases where the individual poorly manages their diabetes or hasn’t been diagnosed, it’s a possibly fatal condition.
That, and untreated hypoglycemia during intoxication, can lead to death by depriving the brain and body of glucose, their main source of energy. Combined with being drowsy from the alcohol, it can easily be masked and not recognized in time.
Type 2 Diabetes and Alcohol
Unlike diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2, alcohol isn’t that high-risk when combined. A lot of people who have type 2 diabetes can consume alcohol in moderation, but they still have to maintain and follow their consumption levels to prevent a glucose spike. They maintain their glucose levels by:
- Counting carbs
- Avoiding high carb-drinks
- Drinking water during and between drinks
- Not drinking on an empty stomach
The risk factor here is that when overdrinking alcohol, diabetics could either become hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic. Aside from that, there are some other indirect ways alcohol can harm:
- Weight gain
- Rising blood pressure
- Raising A1C levels – A1C (HbA1C) is the parameter doctors use to measure the body’s 3-month average glucose level.
One study found that heavy binge drinking results in raising an individual’s A1C level by 0.5-1.0%. A1C and sustaining a certain A1C goal a very important step in managing diabetes. Learn more about A1C and the A1C goal in this article.
Moderation vs. Abstinence
When learning about diabetes and alcohol effects, it is very easy to become scared of the possible outcomes and decide to abstain from drinking completely. That is a valid response, but for some people, giving up alcohol isn’t something they can do overnight. In many households and cultures, drinking alcohol during lunch or when out is somewhat of a staple and considered the norm.
People who have diabetes type 2 or type 1 can decide between abstinence and moderate intake, but that choice depends on other personal and medical factors that also play a role. In some cases, moderate drinking can be safe, but in others, abstinence might be the only choice left available.
Here are some different factors, so you can know when to get a glass of wine or a bottle of Coca-Cola:
- Well-managed diabetes: in moderation
- On insulin: extreme caution
- Fatty liver disease: abstain
- Pancreatitis: abstain
- High blood pressure: abstain
Articles you may also be interested in
Are There Benefits to Drinking Alcohol with Diabetes?
Some studies are trying to prove if light alcohol consumption might lead to improvement in:
- Insulin sensitivity – a two-week trial study showed that drinking 360 ml of red wine a day leads to improved insulin resistance by 43% in type 2 diabetics.
- Raise the levels of HDL (Good cholesterol) – another study determined that 30 grams of either red wine or vodka daily leads to a minimal increase of 0.09 mmol/gr HDL.
- Lower fasting glucose
- Protect the heart
Does that mean that the Romans were on to something when they said In vino veritas?
In reality, these results are modest and they don’t outweigh the risks that alcohol provides, like blood sugar swings, liver damage, and changes in blood pressure. Depending on the individual’s health, consulting a healthcare provider is the best way to greenlight this.
Diabetes and the Risks of Drinking Alcohol
It is a well-known fact that alcohol isn’t healthy, and when people have some condition, alcohol becomes even more unhealthy. Diabetes and alcohol use are tricky, but by educating and knowing the possible risks of drinking, it can be easier to manage and control.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Hypoglycemia is a condition where a person’s blood sugar drops very low. Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia by blocking the liver’s ability to release glucose. That, combined with insulin medication, can lead to a life-threatening situation.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Sweating
- Feeling thirsty
- Feeling tired
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
It’s easy for hypoglycemia to be masked as alcoholic intoxication since the symptoms are very similar. It’s important to know that this type of induced hypoglycemia usually occurs a few hours after drinking.
Disclaimer: When dealing with hypoglycemia and the person loses consciousness, it’s urgent to call 911 and treat the person with a Glucacon emergency kit!
Read More: If you or a loved one is a diabetic, owning a kit like this is good for urgent cases. This kit includes one vial of glucagon and a syringe filled with sterile water for mixing. It is applied intramuscularly, in the thighs or the upper arm, and works by raising the blood sugar levels in a quick manner. You can get one here!
Alcohol and Diabetes Medication
It is well known that abstaining from alcohol is a good choice when on certain types of medication, to not overload the body (especially the liver) with substances that are harder to metabolize.
But, when dealing with chronic illness that needs to be medicated for a very long time, maybe even forever, most people don’t quit alcohol altogether.
Let’s discuss how the body reacts to alcohol and diabetic medication.
Ozempic & Wegovy (Semaglutide)
Ozempic and Wegovy are common treatments that are used in managing type 2 diabetes. They both contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Aside from treating diabetes, Ozempic is used as a weight loss treatment since it reduces appetite and cravings.
Some researchers assume that alcoholism can be treated with Ozempic, deeming it to suppress alcohol cravings. Their research found that taking one dose weekly of Semaglutide for 9 weeks reduced both alcohol cravings and alcohol intake in the participants. You can learn more about this here!
Even though there are no direct contraindications between these drugs and alcohol, there are still possible side effects that can occur, such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Low blood sugar
Read More: If you want to read more about the effects of alcohol on Ozempic, you can read more about Ozempic here and about Wegovy here.
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Mounjaro is another medication that is used for treating diabetes, but it contains the active ingredient Tirzepatide. Possible risks and complications when drinking alcohol whilst taking Mounjaro are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hypoglycemia
- Kidney damage
- Pancreatitis
If you want to find out more about the way Mounjaro and alcohol react when mixed, read this article.
Cautions When Drinking Alcohol as a Diabetic
If an individual can’t refrain from drinking alcohol, there are some rules of thumb and cautions they should look out for to make drinking alcohol as worry-free as possible, such as:
- Never drink on an empty stomach
- Drinking low-carb drinks
- Checking their glucose levels before going out, between drinks, and before going to bed
- Avoid overconsumption
- Having their medical information available
Conclusion
Diabetes and alcohol are very complex, with some studies showing how they clash with each other and others showing how they help each other. Having diabetes does not mean that an individual should give up alcohol altogether, but it does require some lifestyle changes and being more aware of the effects alcohol has on a diabetic body.
With a solid understanding of how it affects blood sugar levels and the way alcohol reacts with medication, it is easier to make a more informed choice regarding drinking. Avoiding drinks that are high in sugar and drinking plenty of water during drinks, most of the symptoms can be easily avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Original Publish Date: 4/16/2021 – Updated 7/3/2025
