The Effects of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatments on Diabetes
You can control your diet if you are suffering from diabetes, but what is the advice on alcohol and substance abuse treatments? Can you drink alcohol occasionally or every day? After the diagnosis of diabetes, the question that lingers in your mind is whether the consumption of alcohol increases sugar in the blood, or can you take a drink safely. In such a situation, there is some information that will help you in making the right decision.
1. Effect of alcohol on diabetes
Immediately after drinking alcohol, the amount of sugar in the blood decreases rapidly. This can affect you for 24 hours. The liver usually compensates for this condition by releasing glucose from its emergency store. However, since alcohol stops the formation of glucose in the liver, there may be an excess of sugar in the blood, which is fatal. The symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to that of drinking excess alcohol as per experts in alcohol and substance abuse treatments. These symptoms are a feeling of confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness. However, in such a situation, you or the people around you do not know that you are in danger.
2. Follow these instructions while drinking alcohol
Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Do have food with it, as suggested by experts in alcohol and substance abuse treatments. Dilute alcohol by adding some liquid to your drink. However, do not take caloric liquid. Ice or water is best. If you take insulin, inform your doctor that on the day you are going to drink. There is no need to reduce the amount of insulin. Do not have drinks that have high alcohol content.
3. Will diabetes medications be affected by alcohol?
Experts in alcohol and substance abuse treatments say that alcohol affects some food hypoglycemic medications, causing headaches and vomiting. It is seen that occasional drinking in diabetes increases the effect of this medicine, but continuous drinking reduces it. If you have diabetes, then it is important to keep these facts related to alcohol in mind.
4. Does drinking alcohol increase diabetes-related problems?
Experts in alcohol and substance abuse treatments state that the effect of diabetes, along with alcohol, on the arteries is an increase in pain in such people. People who have high levels of triglycerides need to take special care. Alcohol can increase its volume further. This increases the risk of pancreatitis and reduces the amount of insulin that protects against diabetes. Drinking too much alcohol can reduce the ability to see in diabetics. Besides, during diabetes, the risk of diseases related to the eyes increases.
Drinking alcohol in diabetes is safe as long as it is taken in limited quantities. In any case, drinking too much alcohol causes problems. In addition, if you are drinking alcohol thinking that it will reduce the amount of sugar in the blood easily, then you are wrong. It is almost impossible to predict the effects of alcohol. Therefore, it is not right to take the risk of drinking to reduce sugar. To reduce sugar, manage food habits properly and try measures like physical exercise, medicines, and leading a stress-free life.