Diabetes and Alcohol

People with diabetes are particularly susceptible to the effects of alcohol. For people on blood-sugar-lowering medications, alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low for up to 12 hours after drinking, because the liver has to work to remove the alcohol from the blood instead of doing its job to regulate blood sugar.
 If you have diabetes, never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Monitor your blood sugar before, during and after drinking — and don’t go to bed without checking it. Aim for a level of between 100 and 140 mg per deciliter. Women should have no more than one drink per day; men, no more than two per day — guidelines are the same for people with or without diabetes. If either your diabetes or your drinking is not under control, talk to your doctor.