can diabetics drink beer?

But when you have diabetes, it’s a bit more complicated. You might want to know whether it's safe to drink alcohol with diabetes, and how much is OK.

So yes, you can still drink, but you need to be aware of how it can affect your body and how to manage this. For example, drinking can make you more likely to have a hypo, because alcohol interferes with your blood sugar levels. It can affect your weight too, as there can be a lot of calories in alcoholic drinks.

We’ll give you all the facts here.

There are several risk factors for type 2 diabetes, these include your family history, age and ethnic background. We also know you’re more likely to develop it if you’re overweight.

Excess alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but the relationship between alcohol and risk of type 2 diabetes can be a little bit complicated and staying within government guidelines is the safest way to drink alcohol.

Alcohol can also contain a lot of calories, which can lead to putting on weight.

Take a look at our information about risk factors and find out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

To help keep health risks from alcohol at a low level, it’s safest not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. These guidelines are the same for men and women. The guidelines also recommend that if you choose to drink up to 14 units a week, spread this over at least three days.

But what does this actually mean when you’re in the pub or having dinner with a glass of wine at home?

It means you shouldn’t drink more than six medium glasses of wine or six pints of lager a week.

But the size of the glass and type of alcohol affects the number of units, so it’s best to check the guidelines at drinkaware.co.uk

If you use insulin or some other diabetes medications like sulphonylureas, you’re more likely to have a hypo. Drinking alcohol can then add to this, because alcohol reduces your body’s ability to recover when blood sugar levels are dropping. Usually, the liver stores extra glucose which is released back into the blood when needed, such as when blood sugar levels drop. But alcohol stands in the way of the liver’s ability to do this effectively. If you’re not sure whether your medication can cause hypos or if they're affected by alcohol, it’s best to speak to your healthcare team.

If you drink a lot or on an empty stomach, you’re even more likely to have a hypo.

Your risk of having a hypo doesn't go away after you stop drinking – it increases, and can last up to 24 hours.

It’s not uncommon for some people to mistake having a hypo for being drunk. So carry hypo treatments around with you and always wear some medical ID. You should also make sure that whoever you’re with knows you have diabetes, and knows how to help with a hypo if you need them to.

Depending on what you like to drink, there can be a lot of calories in alcohol. So if you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to drink less.

If you’re carb counting, drinking can make it a lot more tricky. While a lot of alcoholic drinks contain carbs, you might not need to take your usual mealtime amount of insulin to cover them. That’s because you’re more likely to get hypos.

It all depends on what you drink, how much you drink, and what else you’re doing while you’re drinking – like eating or dancing. So it’s best to talk to your healthcare team and get their advice.

If you end up having one too many, drinking a pint of water before you go to bed will help keep you hydrated. If you’re lucky, it may also help prevent a hangover in the morning. If you do wake up with a hangover, it’ll still help to drink plenty of water.

And always have breakfast – it will help you manage your blood sugar. If you can’t face food or you’ve been sick, drink as many fluids as you can, including some sugary (non-diet) drinks if your blood sugar levels are low.

If you’ve got a blood sugar meter at home, check your levels regularly the next day. The symptoms of having a hypo are similar to feelings of a hangover, so you need to know if you’re having one. No matter how awful you feel, you need to treat a hypo straight away. Don’t ignore it.

If you take insulin, you might need to change your dose depending on what your levels are. Talk to your healthcare team about what you should be doing.

There's no 'best' alcoholic drink for people with diabetes. If you're going to drink, it's good to be aware of all the facts so you can choose the types of drinks best for you:

If you have diabetes, you should be aware of the other health risks around drinking. That way, you can help to avoid them by limiting how much you drink.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

Alcohol intake can affect fertility in men and women, so if you are trying for a baby it is important to cut back. For pregnant women the safest is not to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy. In particular, drinking alcohol during the first three months of pregnancy may increase the risk of a miscarriage. Excessive alcohol intake during pregnancy is never a good idea, and the more alcohol you drink the greater the risk to your baby. These risks include stillbirth, premature birth and foetal alcohol syndrome.

Some people find that alcohol helps them deal with stress or when they're feeling low. It might make you feel more relaxed, but it’s not a healthy way of managing these feelings.

Getting more active can really help if you’re stressed or feeling anxious. Starting a hobby with a friend, or doing something relaxing like having a long bath or reading a book can all help.

Many people believe that living with diabetes means opting out of certain foods and beverages entirely. However, you might enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages like beer. If you're wondering whether or not it's still possible to enjoy a beer when you have diabetes, the answer is yes—but it's important to know how to do so safely.

Beer is a significant source of carbohydrates, so it can impact blood sugar. Depending on the type, it can also be high in calories, so drinking beer may contribute to weight gain over time. Some types of beer can be higher in alcohol too. Additionally, according to the ADA, because the liver prioritizes clearing alcohol from the body, drinking alcohol can slow down carb metabolism, potentially leading to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Drinking any alcohol when taking diabetes medications can exacerbate this effect as well. So it's essential to be mindful when consuming alcoholic beverages like beer when you have diabetes.

In this article, we'll discuss the nutrition of beer, how it impacts your blood sugar levels and things to keep in mind so you can enjoy it in moderation.

Beer is a staple beverage throughout the year, from fall football season to the winter holidays to the Fourth of July. It can even be used in various recipes to give a distinctive flavor—bread, soups and braised meats can all include beer. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one serving of beer is considered to be 12 ounces and 5% alcohol. Note that in bars and restaurants, pours may differ (for instance, a pint glass holds 16 ounces).

A 12-ounce can of beer has, on average, per the USDA:

Interestingly, beer also contains very small amounts of vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Since it has nearly one carb serving (15 grams of carbs = one carb choice for carb-counting purposes), beer could significantly affect blood sugar and must be treated accordingly.

When you live with diabetes, your body has trouble getting sugar into your bloodstream to be utilized by the cells in your body. This can lead to your blood having too much sugar, a state called hyperglycemia, which can damage organs and body tissues. When people without diabetes consume sugar, it is rapidly absorbed and utilized by the body. Their pancreas secretes insulin to help the sugar enter the body's cells, where it is used for energy.

Drinking alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, so it's essential to keep this in mind if you plan on drinking. This happens because your liver, where glucose is stored until the body needs energy, also is responsible for clearing alcohol from your system, so may be delayed in releasing necessary sugars into the bloodstream. You'll need to know how and be prepared to treat low blood sugar if it does occur.

Symptoms of low blood sugar can often be similar to being affected by alcohol. These symptoms include:

Drinking in moderation and monitoring your blood sugar are wise moves to ensure you won't experience hypoglycemia. It's also best practice to keep a form of identification on you that says that you have diabetes, in case you need medical assistance and are unconscious. There are bracelets, keychains, necklaces or even tattoos that can provide this information in an emergency.

Yes, you can usually drink beer safely if you have diabetes, but it's not without risks. Drinking any form of alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels, so you need to limit your intake to what is safe for you by knowing your own limits.

You should also be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia and be mindful that they are similar to a drunken state. It's a good idea to alert anyone you are enjoying alcohol with of signs to be on the lookout for, so they can help or get you help should the need arise.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends females limit their daily alcohol intake to one drink a day and males limit their intake to two. In the case of beer, one 12-ounce can is considered one drink. If you abide by these guidelines, consuming alcohol is generally safe when living with diabetes.

Studies show that excessively consuming alcoholic beverages of any kind increases your risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease. When you live with a chronic condition already, it is wise to take this into account and take the current recommendations to drink moderately seriously. And if you are taking medication for your diabetes or for any other health condition, it's important to discuss with your health care team any possible effects from mixing alcohol and medication.

If you are going to consume alcohol, it's a good idea to consume it with food. This will be better for your blood sugar than drinking on an empty stomach. Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking water with your beer, too.

People with diabetes have to take special care with what they consume, and alcohol is no exception. Drinking alcoholic beverages can impact blood sugar, so it's important to be mindful about your alcohol consumption.

Many people have the perception that alcoholic beverages like beer are off-limits with diabetes, but this is not necessarily the case. While ideally alcohol would be avoided or enjoyed only occasionally, you may be able to drink regularly when you have diabetes as long as you do so in moderation. That's a limit of one to two 12-ounce beer(s) per day.

So yes, you can still drink, but you need to be aware of how it can affect your body and how to manage this. For example, drinking can make you more likely to have a hypo, because alcohol interferes with your blood sugar levels. It can affect your weight too, as there can be a lot of calories in alcoholic drinks.