What you drink is just as important as what you eat, especially if you have diabetes. In fact, you might be surprised at how much a single drink can affect your blood glucose levels. Living with type 2 diabetes frequently entails avoiding or limiting foods and beverages that can affect blood sugar (glucose) levels. Alcohol is not required to be one of them. However, this doesn’t mean that you can drink as much as you want. Read the blog to know more about beer for diabetics.
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Alcohol consumption generally fluctuates your blood sugar levels and the hormones needed to control them. It can lead to hypoglycemia (low sugar). Eventually, excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the effectiveness of insulin altogether and make the body glucose intolerant.
In the case of beer, however, the alcohol content is low, but the calorie content is high. A can of beer is said to have 150 calories, and since it is low in alcohol content, people end up having a lot more calories than allowed. This is why, unlike other alcoholic drinks, having beer increases blood sugar levels.
Now that you know what beer does to your blood sugar levels, do you still think you can go for that beer glass? Well, the answer is moderate consumption. Anything in excess can cause harm to your body. According to the American Diabetes Organization, moderate consumption means one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Here are a few things you must do to minimize the effect of beer consumption on your sugar levels:
Always avoid drinking beer on an empty stomach. This is because the carbohydrate content in beer can immediately spike sugar levels. If you plan to have a glass of beer, compliment it with a low-carbohydrate snack. Alternatively, you can go for light beers that have a lower calorie count.
Instead of gulping down cans, you must give breaks between your drinks to minimise their effect. You can also consume water in between to balance out the carbohydrate content.
This is a no-brainer. To live life without any tension, diabetics must make lifestyle modifications, which include a good and healthy diet, sound sleep, reduced stress, exercising, and more. Diabetics should go for juices like Karela Jamun Juice, Wheatgrass with Aloe Vera Juice, and Wheatgrass with Amla Juice.
Read More: Alcohol and Diabetes – Can I Drink Alcohol If I Have Diabetes?
Here are a few do’s and don’ts a person with diabetes must follow before consuming any alcoholic drinks:
Now, you know, is beer good for diabetes or not? Beer or any other alcoholic drink in excess can affect your health adversely. This is why it is best to consume them in moderation. Always remember, anything in excess is never good for your health!