Yes, drinking too much wine (or any alcohol) significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by causing weight gain, increasing triglycerides, raising blood pressure, and reducing insulin sensitivity, and it can also worsen existing diabetes by interfering with blood sugar control. Heavy drinking impacts the liver and pancreas, leading to insulin resistance and making it harder for your body to manage glucose.
Drinking alcohol can contribute to the conditions that cause diabetes. There are three main ways heavy drinking can be a factor in causing diabetes: Regular heavy drinking can reduce the body's sensitivity to insulin, which can trigger type 2 diabetes.
While quitting alcohol alone will not likely reverse your diabetes, reducing your alcohol intake is a great way to start the process. The best way to reverse type 2 diabetes includes: Reducing your intake of carbohydrates, like the nutrition plan recommended by Virta. Losing weight if you are overweight or obese.
Risks of Drinking Alcohol with Diabetes
The symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) are usually similar to the side effects of alcohol, making it difficult to differentiate the two. Low blood sugar and alcohol can both cause symptoms like blurred vision, slurred speech, sedation, and impaired coordination.
Drinking large amounts of wine long-term can cause many serious health problems including dependence, heart and liver problems, and certain types of cancer.
Two glasses of wine nightly isn't automatically alcoholism but increases health risks, with the key difference being dependence and negative life impact, not just quantity; while moderate drinking (up to 1-2 drinks for women, 2 for men) is often seen as low-risk, daily intake, especially of larger portions or if it interferes with life, raises risks for addiction, liver issues, and cancers, so it's wise to monitor for compulsive use, tolerance, or withdrawal, says.
Over years of regular and excessive drinking, sustained damage to the liver from alcohol can cause liver cancer, alcohol-associated liver disease and cirrhosis. Liver cancer often has no signs or symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage.
Try to limit drinks with a lot of sugar, such as sweet sherries, sweet wines and liqueurs. Choose alcohol-free alternatives. Alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, and spirits are now widely available. But be aware that these still have some free (added) sugars and carbs which will affect blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) refers to liver damage caused by excess alcohol intake. There are several stages of severity and a range of associated symptoms.
Ten key warning signs of diabetes include increased thirst and urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, unexplained weight loss, tingling/numbness in hands or feet, frequent infections, and sometimes dark skin patches (acanthosis nigricans), all indicating high blood sugar levels needing medical attention.
Within three weeks of being alcohol free, your blood pressure will likely lower, and your general cardiovascular health will improve. The rhythm of your heart will begin to stabilise, which will reduce your palpitations and the added feelings of anxiety and distress these can cause.
The "20-minute rule for alcohol" is a simple strategy to moderate drinking: wait 20 minutes after finishing one alcoholic drink before starting the next, giving you time to rehydrate with water and reassess if you truly want another, often reducing cravings and overall intake. It helps slow consumption, break the chain of continuous drinking, and allows the body a natural break, making it easier to decide if you've had enough or switch to a non-alcoholic option.
While completely reversing diabetes is difficult, eliminating alcohol can significantly enhance diabetes management and reduce the risk of complications. Quitting alcohol helps control blood sugar levels, decreases weight-related risk factors, and improves overall metabolic health.
Avoid sugary drinks whenever possible because not only can they raise blood sugar levels, but they can also contribute many calories to the recommended daily calorie intake.
For individuals who choose to consume alcohol, a habit of light to moderate drinking 3 or more days per week is associated with better long-term health outcomes. Specifically, a glass of red wine before or during the evening meal appears to be safe.
Physical symptoms: reduced activity, low energy, tiredness, decreased physical endurance, increased effort to do physical tasks, general weakness, heaviness, slowness or sluggishness, nonrestorative sleep, and sleepiness.
Drink more water
“Water helps your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine,” says Khan. “So, the more hydrated you are, the more urine production you'll have, which flushes out sugar in the body.” Always opt for water instead of sugary drinks, like soda and juice.
A normal HbA1c is generally below 5.7% for all adults, but levels naturally tend to rise slightly with age, with upper limits increasing for older adults (e.g., around 6.0-6.5% for those 60+) to avoid hypoglycemia, though specific targets depend on individual health, with 5.7-6.4% indicating prediabetes and 6.5% or higher suggesting diabetes.
The "healthiest" alcohol options focus on low sugar, fewer additives, and potential antioxidants, with red wine often topping lists for its polyphenols (like resveratrol), though moderation is key. Other good choices include clear spirits (vodka, gin, tequila) mixed with water or soda water (not tonic) to keep sugar and calories low, and drinks with vegetable bases like a Bloody Mary, or lower-sugar options like hard seltzers, light beers, or dry wines.
Water indirectly lowers our blood sugar by giving us the sensation of feeling full. “This ultimately reduces our intake of carbohydrates and sugars,” explains Dr. Zohrabian. “Drinking more water will also increase blood circulation through our kidneys and filter out excess glucose (blood sugar) in our urine.”
Opt for Dry Wines
Dry wines, both red and white, are generally the best options for those with diabetes. They contain little to no added sugars, which helps avoid sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. Some great choices include: Red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
A standard bottle of wine is 750 millilitres (about 5 glasses). It usually contains around 9 to 11 units of alcohol. Both men and women are advised to avoid regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.
Four key warning signs of a damaged liver include jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), abdominal issues (swelling, pain), fatigue/weakness, and changes in urine/stool color, alongside symptoms like itchy skin, easy bruising, confusion, or nausea, indicating the liver isn't filtering toxins or clotting blood properly.