Make the smart choice, avoid alcohol

If your doctor approves, here are some tips for drinking alcohol: Drink alcohol only when your diabetes is under control. Do not drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day. Eat a snack or meal with your drink or drink after a meal to avoid low blood sugar. Beer and wine contain carbohydrates that should be counted in your total daily calories. Drink plenty of water. Water helps your body replace lost fluids from drinking alcohol.

If you have diabetes, it can be difficult to decide whether or not to drink alcohol. Alcohol lowers blood sugar and can cause hypoglycemia. This is of particular concern to people with diabetes. Your body can only break down one ounce of alcohol per hour.

Some people who have diabetes should not drink at all. If you have nerve damage from diabetes in your arms or legs, drinking can make it worse and can increase pain, burning, tingling, and numbness.

Heavy drinking may worsen diabetic eye disease. And if you have high blood pressure, drinking will make it difficult to lower your blood pressure. Many people with diabetes have high levels of triglycerides in their blood. Even light drinking (two 4-ounce glasses of wine a week) can raise triglyceride levels.

If you want to drink alcohol, you should talk to your doctor about how it affects your diabetes.