Alcohol is almost as fattening as an item from the fats lists, delivering about 7 calories per gram or 150 calories per drink.
Many people with diabetes used to believe that alcohol was an ‘off limits' item. However, modern research has shown that if managed in the right way as part of an overall diabetes management plan, alcohol can be safely consumed in moderation by people with diabetes.
Cohort studies have suggested that alcohol may be protective against type 2 diabetes. A British and American cohort studied indicated that moderate alcohol consumption reduces risk of the condition by approx 40% in men but less so among American women.
It was suggested by the experts that adults with diabetes can drink moderate amounts of alcohol if they eat food at the same time.
Ideally the alcohol should be ingested with food to avoid the risk of hypoglycemia.
For a person with diabetes, the intake should be limited to one drink or 350 ml beer, 150 ml of wine or 45 ml of distilled spirits for women and two drinks for men in one day.
Interestingly, there have been several recent studies suggesting that moderate alcohol consumption among men and women with type 2 diabetes is also associated with much reduced risk of subsequent coronary heart disease, the leading killer of people with diabetes.,
If a patient has diabetes and is not already drinking alcohol routinely, he or she shouldn’t start.
Intake of alcohol and diabetes
