It's one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men. However, that “drink” is a lot smaller than some people think: just five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits. A daily cocktail or two may improve blood glucose (blood sugar) management and insulin sensitivity.
People with type 2 diabetes are recommended to limit their intake of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks such as beer, cider, stout, cocktails, wine and sweetened spirit drinks contain a large amount of carbohydrates. These can raise blood glucose. Sweetened mixers added to alcohol may also contain carbohydrates.
If, however, you have a drink that does not contain carbohydrates, such as a gin and diet tonic, a vodka and diet Coke or a glass of red wine, you may not see any change in your blood glucose level.
Some drinks like beers, ales and ciders contain carbs and will increase your blood sugar levels initially. Spirits, dry wines and Prosecco not so much, so these may be a better bet if you are concerned about the carbs in alcohol.
Drinking alcohol can cause blood sugar to fall too fast in people with diabetes. Metformin also lowers blood sugar, so the combination of the two increases your risk of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. The combination of alcohol and metformin can also lead to a rare but serious complication called lactic acidosis.
The 10 Best and Worst Drinks for People with Diabetes
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.
Diabetics clearly should avoid heavy drinking (i.e., more than 10 to 12 drinks per day), because it can cause ketoacidosis and hypertriglyceridemia. Moreover, heavy drinking in a fasting state can cause hypoglycemia and ultimately increase diabetics' risk of death from noncardiovascular causes.
A nutritionist's top healthiest alcoholic drinks
The alcoholic drinks with the least sugar are straight spirits like vodka, gin, whiskey, and tequila, as distillation removes sugar, followed by dry wines (red/white), dry sparkling wines, and hard seltzers, but always watch out for sugary mixers like juice or soda, opting for club soda or diet mixers instead.
The Worst Alcoholic Drinks for Blood Sugar Control
There's no cure for diabetes and no way to completely get rid of it. However, diabetes can be reversed in most people. Reversing diabetes means carefully managing blood sugars to a point where medications are no longer necessary, and staying at that manageable point through a healthy routine of diet and exercise.
What To Drink Instead of Alcohol
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.
The best liquor for diabetics is any alcohol that is distilled, because distilled spirits are devoid of carbs. Moderation is still the key to drink safely. Gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey: A serving of 1.5 ounces (45 mL) contains zero carbs.
Examples of the worst foods for diabetics include:
Fruits to avoid with diabetes
While you don't need to avoid these high glycemic fruits, you should limit or eat them in moderation: Bananas. Mangoes. Pineapple.
What is the best alcohol to drink on metformin? Red wine, white wine, and light beers are probably the best alcoholic beverages to drink if you are diabetic and take metformin. They contain fewer calories. Additionally, red wine may have some heart health benefits due to its antioxidant properties.
Research suggests that moderate consumption of red wine could have health benefits for those with type 2 diabetes. A glass of red wine with dinner may help lower glucose levels, reducing the body's need for insulin.
Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin
The alcoholic drinks with the least sugar are straight spirits like vodka, gin, whiskey, and tequila, as distillation removes sugar, followed by dry wines (red/white), dry sparkling wines, and hard seltzers, but always watch out for sugary mixers like juice or soda, opting for club soda or diet mixers instead.
It's one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men. However, that “drink” is a lot smaller than some people think: just five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits. A daily cocktail or two may improve blood glucose (blood sugar) management and insulin sensitivity.
The healthiest alcoholic drinks are generally red wine, clear spirits (vodka, gin, tequila) mixed with soda water, and hard seltzers, chosen for their lower sugar/carb content and potential antioxidants (in wine). The key is moderation and avoiding sugary mixers; simple, less-processed options are best, but remember no alcohol is truly "healthy," and excessive consumption is harmful.