To avoid raising blood sugar, choose dry wines (red or white), Brut/Extra Brut sparkling wines, or dry Rosés, as they have very low sugar content (around 1-2g per glass), unlike sweet wines or coolers which can cause spikes. Red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are often recommended, along with dry whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Always drink in moderation and with food to manage blood sugar effectively, as alcohol can affect levels.
Opt for dry red and white ones as well as sparkling wines. They are low in sugar and will not increase the sugar level in your blood. One or two glasses of these will only do you good. Organic red wine benefits are many – organic wine is rich in beneficial compounds that can positively affect both your body and mind.
Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is light, zesty, and always refreshing. It's a type of white wine that suits those who like a crisp drink. It's also low in sugar, helping to keep blood sugar levels in check.
Drinking a small amount of alcohol occasionally and on a full stomach is not likely to significantly affect blood glucose levels. People with diabetes who want to drink wine can, therefore, do so in moderation.
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.
Most dry red wines have minimal sugar, making them excellent choices for low-carb or keto-friendly diets.
Generally speaking, red wine has the lowest sugar content, with an average of around 0.9g per serving. White wines will usually have around 1.4g of sugar per serving, although this varies by type. Given its sweet nature, it will come as no surprise to learn that a glass of rose could include a huge 21g to 72g of sugar.
Wine Experiences with our Top 5 Healthiest Red Wine Picks
For instance, a dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon typically contains less than 2 grams of residual sugar per glass. On the other hand, a sweet red wine like Port can contain up to 100 grams of residual sugar per glass.
Lambrusco. The standard winemaking method for Lambrusco makes it the lightest red wine on our list. Of course, Lambrusco is actually a family grapes and the lightest of them all is Lambrusco di Sorbara.
Dry wines—including dry red wines—have little to no sugar, typically less than 3g/L. Per our Maker wine terms glossary, grape juice becomes wine when all the natural sugars from the fruit are “eaten up” by yeast and converted to alcohol and CO2 through a process called fermentation.
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.
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.
Opt for dry wines: Dry wines typically have lower sugar content and fewer carbs. Examples of dry wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. These wines tend to have fewer than 4 grams of carbs per 5-ounce (150 ml) serving.
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.
The Worst Alcoholic Drinks for Blood Sugar Control
When you compare the health outcomes of fructose versus alcohol consumption, you end up seeing a very familiar pattern – the diseases they cause are virtually identical! In reality the scientific literature shows that fructose may be far worse than ethanol in its wide-ranging negative impact on human health.
There are actually "fewer health differences between red and white wine than many people think," said Dr. Stacie Stephenson, a physician based in Illinois. "White wine has slightly more sugar, slightly fewer calories [due to lower alcohol content] and fewer antioxidants," she told Fox News Digital.
All alcoholic drinks contain some sugar, but some have more than others - fortified wines, sherries, liqueurs, cider and pre-mixed drinks like alcopops have particularly high levels.
The healthiest wines are typically dry red wines high in antioxidants (polyphenols like resveratrol), such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat, due to longer skin contact during fermentation. Orange wines also offer high antioxidants, while lower sugar, lower alcohol (ABV) options, and organically/biodynamically made wines are generally better choices, but remember moderation is key as alcohol carries health risks.
As Sauvignon Blanc is a dry wine there is usually no or little residual sugar left in the wine, meaning that it tends to be lower in sugar and calories than it's sweeter counterparts, and certainly more forgiving than high sugar alcoholic drinks such as cocktails.
The combination of alcohol and metformin can also lead to a rare but serious complication called lactic acidosis. This is a buildup of lactic acid in the body that develops when cells burn glucose for energy without enough oxygen. It's more likely to occur in people who binge drink and take metformin.