Drinking and Diabetes: The Science Unveiled

Does drinking alcohol affect your diabetes? Well, the short answer — Yes. Liver contains emergency stores of glucose to raise blood sugar when required by the body. But when alcohol is present in your blood stream, liver focuses on clearing the alcohol instead and forgets about releasing glucose. The result — dangerously low blood glucose level (Hypoglycemia).

But having diabetes is no reason to avoid drinking. Though, there’s always a limit! You should know how alcohol affects your diabetes. Follow the guidelines and tips to do it safely. Read on for some tips to sip by!

1. Know that alcohol causes hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Alcohol consumption can lead to dangerously low blood sugar level. Be very conservative and cautious if you use insulin or other pills to lower your blood sugar. Check with your doctor if you should reduce your Diabetes medicines the day you are planning to drink.

2. Watch out for symptoms

Alcohol can make it hard to notice symptoms of low blood sugar level. Drunkenness and low blood sugar have similar symptoms like feeling sleepy, dizzy and confused. It’s best to keep a friend informed so that he/ she can watch out for such symptoms.

3. Don’t skip a meal

Do not drink on an empty stomach or when your blood glucose is low. Since your risk of low blood glucose increases after drinking.

4. Keep a check on blood glucose level

If you are going to drink alcohol, check your blood glucose:

• Before you drink
• While you drink
• Before bed and at 3am in the night
• More often for up to 24 hours

Never go to bed with a low blood glucose level. Eat a bed time snack like low-fat milk with dry fruits before sleeping.

5. Be In limits!

Women: no more than 1 drink per day.

Men: no more than 2 drinks per day.

One drink = 12 oz ( 355 ml) beer, 5 oz (148 ml) glass of wine or 1 ½ oz (44 ml) distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc.)

6. Contact your Zyla Care Manager

The effects of alcohol can be unpredictable. So, be sure to get your Zyla Care Manager’s recommendation whether drinking alcohol is safe for you. In case of emergency, rush to a nearby hospital. Be well.

Manage diabetes at home and prevent its complications. Download Zyla app (http://bit.ly/2BftxyE-defeatingdiabetes) to get continuous and personalised care for diabetes.

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