A common approach to relaxing after a tiring day is to sip a glass of wine, whether you’re hanging out with your friends or having a dinner date with your partner. However, if you have diabetes, you may be wondering if you can also have a glass of wine after supper. You might be able to drink while having diabetes if you choose the right wine and consider how alcohol may affect your blood sugar levels. Additionally, depending on the drink and if you recently ate, drinking alcohol may either raise or drop your blood sugar levels.
World Drink Wine Day is observed on February 18th. The ideal time to get together with friends and open a couple of bottles of your preferred wine. So, which option do you choose as a person having diabetes?
Which Types of Wine Can A Person Having Diabetes Consume?
Due to its high antioxidant content, red wine has the strongest associations with health advantages among all wine varieties, both for people having diabetes and the general population.
Effects Of Red Wine On Blood Sugar
The American Diabetes Association claims that drinking any alcoholic beverage, including red wine, can reduce blood sugar for up to 24 hours. For this reason, they advise checking your blood sugar before you drink, during your drinking, and for up to 24 hours following.
Advantages Of Red Wine For People With Type 2 Diabetes.
Red Wine can have the following benefits for a person having Type 2 Diabetes-
- Patients with type 2 diabetes, who drink one glass of red wine each day can reduce their cholesterol and enhance their cardiac health.
- Increased HDL levels, the “good” cholesterol that helps in removing harmful cholesterol from your blood vessel walls, are linked to moderate red wine consumption.
- Moderate alcohol consumption can preoccupy the liver, which can result in lower glucose production and low blood sugar levels.
- Due to its advantages for gut health, red wine may assist people to avoid developing heart disease. The fermentation of wine is thought to support health, especially heart health, and protect the gut flora.
- Wine’s polyphenols enhance the gut flora, which enhances digestive health. A healthy gut microbiota is linked to better mental and physical health, as well as lower rates of cancer, obesity, and dementia.
What Are The Risks Of Red Wine Consumption If You Have Type 2 Diabetes?
If you have diabetes and you overconsume red wine, it can have the following effect on your health-
- Too much red wine can cause your blood sugar levels to drop. Red wine can affect your blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours, although the risks are greatest in the first hour while your liver is still processing the alcohol.
- Red wine should be had with a balanced meal to help maintain stable blood sugar levels. If you consume alcohol while exercising or take specific diabetes medications, you face an increased risk of experiencing low blood sugar.
- If you drink alcohol, check your glucose levels more frequently to make sure they remain within a healthy range.
Tips For Consuming Red Wine In Moderation
If you have diabetes, you should take the following precautions while consuming wine –
- Limit yourself to a tiny glass of red wine.
- You should always balance wine with food.
- Monitor your blood sugar levels closely.
When consumed in moderation, red wine is high in polyphenols and antioxidants, which are linked to a number of potential health advantages. If people with diabetes decide to take advantage of these benefits, they should keep in mind that moderation is important and that the timing of alcohol use with food intake needs to be taken into account, especially for those using diabetes medications.
Before including wine in your diet, always consult your doctor. Follow all the recommendations given by your health coach if you wish to keep your sugar levels within the controlled range. Also, do not forget to monitor your sugar levels on a regular basis.
BeatO has launched a new Care Program which can help you control and reverse Type 2 Diabetes. It includes the following features-
- Video doctor consultations on call
- Health coach consultation on call for diet and lifestyle
- Prescribed medication
- BeatO Diabetes Monitoring Kit
Consult BeatO’s health coach for free and control your diabetes. Download the BeatO app!
Check your blood sugar level with Beato Glucometer today.