Alcohol and Type II Diabetes

Alcohol & Type II Diabetes
What is it?
*Type II Diabetes- controlled with diet and exercise or diabetes pills, usually low
blood sugar is less of a risk
Medications:
*Glucagon, Meglitinides, Sulfonylurea- can cause a reaction with alcohol, treat very
severe low blood sugars caused by too much insulin; AVOID > 1 drink at a time
gets liver to release more glucose, does not help if caused by drinking
Facts:
*Normal- when Blood Sugar starts to drop the liver works to change stored
carbohydrate to glucose sending the glucose into the blood to STOP or
slow down a low blood sugar reaction
*Alcohol- is treated as a poison by the liver trying to clear it from the blood quickly,
liver refuses to put out glucose until the alcohol is gotten rid of
*Exercise- lowers the blood sugar
*Heavy Drinking- over a long period of time can damage the liver, can not make
glucose as well, makes diabetes harder to control
*Drinking Too Much- confusion, slurred speech, similar to the symptoms of
low blood sugar, always get a blood test if available
*Alcohol- empty calorie that provides no nutritional calories, 2 light beers have
about 200 calories
*Alcohol- toxic to nerves increasing numbness, tingling, burning, pain, can also
bring on nerve damage; can make eye disease worse
What can I do?
*See your Physician
*See RD for help as needed *See FFF RD on line for help
*AVOID- drinking on an empty stomach, limit to 1 drink if female, 2 if male
*Always- eat a bedtime snack and check blood sugar before going to sleep
*Better Choice- Light Beer, Dry Wines, use diet colas or water if making a mixed drink
*STOP Drinking- to lower triglycerides, blood pressure