Best Alcoholic Drinks for Diabetics: Sugar-Free Options and Safe Choices

December 16, 2024

Key Points:

• Drinking can affect blood sugar levels[1] and increase the risk of hypoglycemia[2] (low blood sugar). 
• This is especially true if you take insulin[3] or certain other diabetes medications.
• Options like dry wines, light beers, or low-carb cocktails can be better choices for managing blood glucose.
• Never drink on an empty stomach, monitor blood sugar closely, and have a plan for managing low blood sugar episodes.

Looking to celebrate a special occasion with an alcoholic libation? Trying to decide on the best type of alcoholic beverage to serve at your game day party? Or simply wondering if you can even drink alcohol if you have diabetes? Before you decide, it’s a good idea to understand how alcohol can impact your blood sugar levels and, if you choose to drink, how to drink safely.

Risks of drinking alcohol

When you drink alcohol (no matter the type), your liver kicks into gear to process, or metabolize, the alcohol. By doing so, however, the liver is unable to make and release glucose into the bloodstream. That may not sound like a problem for people with diabetes, but if you haven’t eaten for a while and you also take insulin or certain medications like sulfonylureas[4] (for example, glipizide [Glucotrol], glyburide [Diabeta, Glynase], or glimepiride [Amaryl]) or meglitinides[5] (for example, repaglinide [Prandin] or nateglinide [Starlix]), you run the risk of hypoglycemia. 

Also, alcohol can impact your blood sugar for several hours, sometimes up to 12 hours, depending on factors such as the amount consumed and your metabolism, according to Johns Hopkins University[6].

Another potential risk of drinking alcohol is that hypoglycemia symptoms, such as dizziness or confusion, can be mistaken for intoxication. The danger of this is that others around you may not realize that your blood sugar is low and that you need assistance.

Always check with your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol. They may advise you not to drink (or at least limit the amount that you drink) if you have certain health conditions, including:

• High triglyceride[7] (blood fat) levels
• Peripheral neuropathy[8]
• High blood pressure[9] (alcohol can worsen this)
• Overweight[10] or obesity (alcohol contributes calories and may lead to weight gain)

To get cutting-edge diabetes news, strategies for blood glucose management, nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletters[11]!

Everything in moderation

The American Diabetes Association[12] and the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans[13] urge moderation when it comes to drinking alcohol. Moderation means:

• Up to one drink per day for women
• Up to two drinks per day for men

(It’s worth noting that these limits refer to daily consumption, not an average over a week — for example, it’s not considered moderate to skip drinking all week and then have seven drinks in one day for women or 14 drinks in one day for men.)

A “drink” is:

•  12 ounces of beer
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (gin, rum, vodka)

Which alcohol is best for diabetics?

The best alcohol for diabetics depends on what you enjoy drinking and whether you are looking for low-carb or sugar-free options. If your tastes run to wine or champagne, consider:

• Red wine, which provides antioxidants that may help lower the risk of heart disease[14]
• White wine
• Dry sparkling wines, such as Champagne, prosecco, or cava

Go easy with sweet wines, which include Port, Riesling, Moscato, Sauterne, and ice wine, as these contain more sugar (and carbs) than drier red and white wines.

If beer[15] is more to your liking, you might consider a light or low-carb beer. Light beers are brewed in a way that lowers the calories and carbs. Most regular beers contain about 15 grams of carbs per 12 ounces; a light beer contains about half as many carb grams, and maybe even as few as 2 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving. Some light beers to consider include:

• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold
• Miller Lite
• Coors Light
• Amstel Light
• Beck’s Premier Light
• Yuengling Lager Light

What about no- or low-alcohol beer? It can be an option if you have diabetes and want to skip the alcohol, but you’ll need to keep an eye on the carbs: some brands may only have a few grams of carbs, but others can have close to 20 grams per serving.

Read more in: “Can People With Diabetes Drink Beer?”[16]

If a cocktail is more up your alley, steer toward mixed drinks made without fruit juice, regular soda, milk, or ice cream. Here are some options to consider:

• Gin and tonic (made with diet tonic water)
• Rum and diet cola
• Gimlet
• Martini
• Vodka soda
• Bloody Mary

There’s always the option of drinking a distilled spirit on its own, either “neat” or “on the rocks” (which means with ice cubes added).

Unfortunately, most alcoholic beverages don’t list the nutrition information or ingredients on their labels, since they’re not required to do so. That’s because alcohol is under the purview of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)[17]. Labels are optional, but not required. To find calorie and carb info for your favorite wine, beer, or mixed drink, search online or use resources like CalorieKing[18], Nutritionix[19], or apps like MyFitnessPal[20].

Sugar-free alcohol for diabetics

If you’re looking for alcohol that won’t add sugar to your diet, distilled spirits like gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, and tequila are naturally sugar-free. These drinks have zero carbs and can be a better choice for people with diabetes who want to avoid blood sugar spikes.

Here are some tips for enjoying sugar-free alcohol safely:

• Drink them neat or on the rocks: Distilled spirits have no added sugar when consumed plain.
• Choose low-carb mixers: If you prefer cocktails, pair spirits with options like diet tonic water, soda water, or sugar-free drink mixes. Avoid fruit juices, regular soda, or syrups, which can add hidden sugars.
• Examples of sugar-free cocktails:
  • Vodka soda (vodka with soda water and lime)
  • Gin and diet tonic
  • Whiskey on the rocks

While distilled spirits are sugar-free, remember that they still contain calories and can affect your blood sugar indirectly. Also, be cautious with flavored distilled spirits, such as flavored vodkas or rums, as they often contain added sugars or syrups that can affect your blood sugar levels.

Always drink responsibly and monitor your glucose levels.

Summary: best alcohol choices for diabetics

• Dry red or white wine
• Light or low-carb beer (e.g., Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite)
• Sugar-free cocktails like vodka soda or rum with diet cola
• Distilled spirits (e.g., whiskey, gin, vodka) served neat or on the rocks

Can diabetics drink alcohol safely?

Besides drinking responsibly and never drinking and driving, keep these other tips in mind:

• Don’t drink on an empty stomach, especially if you take insulin, sulfonylureas, or meglitinides.
• Always keep treatment for low blood sugar[21] with you, particularly if you’re at risk of hypoglycemia.
• Make sure someone that you’re with has your back — meaning, they can help if you are showing signs of hypoglycemia.
• Know your limit and stick with the rule of moderation.
• Pace yourself and alternate an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink, such as sparkling water with lime.
• Check your blood sugars (or your CGM[22]) often if you are drinking, especially before you go to bed. If your blood glucose is below 100 mg/dl (or the level recommended by your provider), you may need to “treat” with a faster-acting carb and follow up with a small snack to help keep your glucose steady overnight.

Want to learn more about diabetes and alcohol? Read “Drinking and Diabetes: Seven Facts to Know,”[23] “Diabetes, Alcohol, and the Holidays: Tips to Stay Safe,”[24] and “Can People With Diabetes Drink Beer?”[16]

Source URL: https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/healthy-living/nutrition-exercise/best-alcoholic-drinks-for-diabetics/

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