What Happens to Diabetics When They Drink?
Immediate Effects Drinking alcohol has a variety of effects on people with diabetes. It takes your liver about an hour to break down alcohol from one drink (15 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor). During the time it is focused on the alcohol, your liver is not releasing as much glucose, so in the hour after a drink, it is important to have food in your stomach to counteract the immediate blood sugar drop of the alcohol. Alcohol can also interfere with the efficacy of medications like insulin and oral diabetes pills. Longer-Term Effects In breaking the alcohol down, your liver converts it into sugar, which then increases your blood sugar level. However, if you drink too much alcohol, it can put your liver under more strain, and blood sugar can go even lower (risking hypoglycemia) before it starts to rise again due to the additional calories from the alcohol. Alcohol may raise levels of triglycerides (fatty acids), which can lead to atherosclerosis and heart di
