Alcohol has a variable effect on blood glucose. In the short term, beer and wine and mixed drinks raise blood glucose levels, while distilled spirits (gin, vodka, etc.) contain no carbohydrates and will not raise glucose levels (assuming you don’t add carbohydrate loaded mixes). In the longer term, alcohol has a hypoglycemic effect and increases the risk of delayed hypoglycemia — meaning that blood glucose levels substantially drop several hours after alcohol consumption — in people with T1D.[1] This effect seems to be a result of inhibition of gluconeogenesis (i.e., the production of glucose from noncarbohydrate substrates), a blunted growth hormone response, and impaired cognitive function and hypoglycemic awareness.[1] Consuming alcohol with food and having a snack before bed can help to minimize the risk of alcohol-induced hypoglycemia.[1]
References
- ^Tetzschner R, Nørgaard K, Ranjan AEffects of alcohol on plasma glucose and prevention of alcohol-induced hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes-A systematic review with GRADE.Diabetes Metab Res Rev.(2018-03)