Alcohol consumption

Alcohol affects the management of type 2 diabetes through its effects on diet and control of BGLs:

• Alcohol interferes with the action of insulin, insulin secretagogues and glucagon, thereby increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia in people with type 2 diabetes who take these medications.⁵
• Alcohol can lower BGLs and reduce awareness of hypoglycaemia.

Alcohol and hypoglycaemia have independent but additive adverse effects on cognitive function.⁹

Reduction in energy intake, which should involve assessing alcohol intake, may be important for managing people who are overweight or obese as part of diabetes management.

Patients should be educated about safe levels of alcohol intake, according to Australian guidelines, and should be told that there is increased risk of hypoglycaemia if alcohol is consumed while using medications such as sulfonylureas.⁴¹

Current Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol recommend no more than 10 standard drinks (a standard drink contains 10 g of alcohol) per week, and no more than four standard drinks on any one day.⁴² Low-alcohol beers are an alternative to ordinary or diet beers. The carbohydrate content of low-carbohydrate beer is not significantly less than full-carbohydrate beers, and the alcohol content is often full strength.

It is recommended that people with diabetes abstain from alcohol if they plan to drive.⁴³

Australian alcohol guidelines can be found on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) website.