Alcohol and blood pressure

How Does Alcohol Affect My Blood Sugar Levels ?

Written by Brian Wu

Reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD, MPH

Last reviewed: Fri 16 Sep 2016

It is not uncommon to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or to have drinks after work with friends. Alcohol consumption is very prevalent in the United States.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2014:

87.6 percent of people age 18 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime

71 percent reported drinking in the past year

56.9 percent reported drinking in the past month

For many people, a glass of alcohol here and there does not pose a problem. For those with certain health conditions such as diabetes , however, alcohol can affect blood sugar levels and pose a health risk. It is important for them to understand what alcohol is and how it affects blood sugar levels.

Contents of this article:

What is alcohol?

Alcohol and blood sugar levels

Alcohol consumption guidelines

What is alcohol?

The way that alcohol affects the body differs from person to person.

Alcohol is made from the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. Fruits, vegetables, additives, and other by-products are added to the alcohol to produce different colors, strengths, tastes, and flavors.

It is a depressant and classed as a "sedative-hypnotic drug" because it depresses the central nervous system. Every organ in the body can be affected by alcohol. Once consumed, it is rapidly absorbed by the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream.

For an average person, the liver can typically break down one standard drink of alcohol per hour. Excess alcohol moves throughout the body. The amount not broken down by the liver is removed by the lungs and kidneys in urine and sweat.

Alcohol' s effect on the body

How alcohol affects a person's body depends on how much they consume. At low doses, alcohol can act as a stimulant. People may feel happy, or become talkative.

Drinking too much alcohol can impair the body and lead to:

Drowsiness

Slurred speech

Unsteady movements

Blurred vision

Slowed reaction time

Shallow breathing

Memory loss and confusion

Nausea and vomiting

Passing out

Coma

Death

The way a person reacts to alcohol is also influenced by other factors, including:

Age

Gender

Race or ethnicity

Physical condition - heavier and more muscular people tend to have more fat and muscle to absorb the alcohol consumed

Amount of food consumed before drinking - food dilutes the alcohol and slows its absorption into the bloodstream

How quickly the alcohol is consumed

How often the person's drinks - people who drink regularly are often able to handle their alcohol better than people who don't usually drink

Use of drugs or prescription medicinesFamily history of alcohol problems

Health

Alcohol and blood sugar levels

A person's overall health plays a big role in how they respond to alcohol. People with diabetes or other blood sugar problems must be careful when consuming alcohol.

Alcohol consumption can interfere with blood sugar as well as the hormones needed to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Frequent heavy drinkers can wipe out their energy storage in a few hours.

Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the overall effectiveness of insulin . This results in high blood sugar levels. Many people with alcoholic liver disease also have either glucose intolerance or diabetes.

People with diabetes and other blood sugar-related illnesses must be extremely careful when consuming alcohol.

According to the Mayo Clinic, normal fasting blood sugar levels should range from 70-100 milligrams per deciliter. People who have diabetes generally have a blood sugar level higher than 126 milligrams per deciliter.

Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of:

Heart and blood vessel disease

Nerve damage

Kidney damage

Eye damage

Skin conditions

Foot damage

People with diabetes have to be very careful when it comes to drinking alcohol. It is a good idea that they talk to their doctor so that th

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