2f. Alcohol and Diabetes Treatment
As we learned previously, alcohol can affect our blood sugar levels. This is especially dangerous for patients with diabetes. Alcohol can also interfere with medications that treat diabetes, and cause other risk factors that can affect treatment.
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Many alcoholic drinks are high in carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels.
- Alcohol is high in calories, which can lead to weight gain.
- Weight gain can make it harder for a patient to manage their diabetes.
- Calories consumed through alcohol are stored in the liver as fat.
- This can make the liver cells resist insulin, causing higher blood sugar levels.
- When we are intoxicated with alcohol, these symptoms are very similar to symptoms of low blood sugar.
- If a diabetes patient passes out while drinking, others may simply think they are intoxicated.
- This can delay proper treatment of low blood sugar, increasing the risk of damage.
Drinking alcohol can make diabetes complications, such as nerve, eye, and kidney damage, worse.