Can Diabetics Drink Beer? If so, which Beer?

If you have diabetes, drinking beer could be safe for you under some conditions. The important thing to consider is to choose the right drink while taking your blood sugar level into notice.

Beer is a famous alcoholic beverage across cultures. Many individuals enjoy beer around the year. But is beer detrimental to the health of people with diabetes? Does it affect blood sugar levels?

Researchers report that diabetes causes lower insulin production, that is, the hormone that controls your blood sugar levels. Being a diabetic patient, you need to manage your blood sugar level. Moreover, alcohol intake may raise or lower your blood sugar levels significantly, depending on several conditions.

However, studies recommend that alcohol intake on a moderate level, especially red wine, has health benefits for people with diabetes. You need to make sure not to drink heavily, or it could interrupt medications and increase the risk of diabetes-related complications.

American Diabetes Association suggests one alcoholic drink for women per day. For men, it should not be more than two drinks per day. They recommend choosing a bottle that comes in a 12-ounce size. The excessive amount of beer will harm you if you are a diabetic patient. Make certain to limit your beer intake amount as suggested. 

Diabetes and Beer

Alcohol consumption on a moderate level is somehow safe for people with diabetes. Make sure not to drink beer with an empty stomach and keep your blood sugar level in check for about 24 hours after beer intake.

A can of beer contains about 150 calories. Since it incorporates low alcohol content, individuals may end up drinking many glasses of beer and devour almost 600 calories. These calories cannot provide your body with proteins, minerals, fats, or grams of carbs. It will help if you eat snacks, chips, or peanuts along with beer intake.

When you intake beer, it directly goes into your stomach and does not digest as regular food. Thus, the alcohol reaches your bloodstream and gets into your brain instantly. Moreover, alcohol perplexes your liver and stops it from producing glucose. Excessive drinks can cause your blood sugar levels to drop, and you could experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Is it safe to drink Beer for Diabetics?

Are you diagnosed with diabetes, yet you feel a craving to drink beer? Let's see in detail if you can drink beer while being a diabetic patient. Many individuals with diabetes drink beer in moderation.

If you are a user of insulin or any diabetes medication like Sulfonylureas, it can trigger hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Make sure not to drink beer with an empty stomach. You need to eat a source of carbohydrates while drinking beer. Moreover, when you drink beer, keep your blood sugar level in check because alcohol can cause low blood sugar.

Being a diabetic patient, you must consult your health care provider whether beer intake is safe for you or not. Keep in mind that alcohol can interact with medications. You need to be cautious even if you take a small amount of drink.

Besides, beer contains calories, so it is better to intake beer on a moderate level to save on calories if you want weight management. Excessive calories in alcohol can increase belly fat leading to specific health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease.

Does Beer Affect Blood Sugar?

A moderate amount of alcohol may lead to a rise in blood sugar, while an excessive amount of alcohol can decrease your blood sugar level. In rare cases, it may drop to a dangerous level. However, light beer contains carbohydrates and can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes, you do not need to cut alcohol from your diet. Many studies suggest that a moderate beer intake (not more than one to two drinks per day) can benefit people with diabetes. But it would help if you kept an eye on safety considerations to prevent any complications.

Alcohol interferes with your liver's ability when your blood sugar is low. Suppose you are taking insulin or other anti-hyperglycemic medications. In that case, it may lead to the risk of extremely low blood sugar for about 24 hours after beer intake. Most importantly, alcohol may blur your judgment to realize your blood sugar level.

Which Beer is Safe for Diabetics to Drink?

Let's scroll down the list of beers that are safe for people with diabetes.

Miller Lite is an American Style beer made of barley malt, corn syrup, and other ingredients. The standard level of carbohydrates in Miller Lite is 3.2 grams in a 12-ounces (360 ML) can or bottle. 

Online reviews suggest that it possesses a great aroma and flavor and could be an ideal choice for the summer season. The award-winning Miller Lite has 0.2 grams of total carbs in a 4-ounce (120 ML) drink and is an original light beer. The beer has Galena hops-driven aroma and a crisp and sweet taste.

However, it is ideal for you if you have diabetes only if you drink in moderation. The beer may increase your blood sugar levels and stimulate your appetite. As a result, you overeat, and it affects your blood sugar control.

Coors Banquet is a golden lager beer with a slight sweetness. It contains 5% alcohol by volume and has the aroma of freshly baked bread and the taste of banana and pear that are mouthwatering and crisp. 

It offers a well-balanced flavor and is another favorite brand for diabetics since it is a low-carb version. Like Miller Lite, it is a light American-style drink that has 5 grams of carbs per 10-ounces (360-ML) bottle. 

Amstel Light Pale Lager contains 95 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates in a 12-ounce bottle and is 3.5% ABV. The beer offers a thirst-quenching and refreshing flavor. Deep gold in color with a distinctive mixture of barley malt, glucose, and hops, it provides a complete and watery flavor. Its energizing taste sets it apart from other brands of light beers.

It comes with 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving and is light on the penchant. It does not lower your blood sugar to an extremely low level nor does it cause an excessive rise in blood sugar level. This means it affects your blood sugar level moderately. 

Do you love wheat brew? Let's try the light, refreshing with solid tangerine implication. Blue Moon Lightsky is a low-calorie, low-carb beer with a citrus mixture. It has 95 calories, 3.6 grams of carbs, and 4% ABV. Besides, the citrus wheat craft beer is refreshing tangerine beer infused with original tangerine peel for a light tropical hop flavor.

The popular beverage is nutritious and contains antioxidants and protein and potassium, magnesium, and iron. It is safe for people with diabetes, but don’t go for more than the recommended dosage.

Busch beer is a good choice for diabetics because it contains low carb content. The regular Busch contains 7 grams of crabs in a 12-ounce (360-mL) bottle. You can enjoy the drink in the summers the most. The light beer is popular due to its taste and smoothness. The beer typically incorporates 100% US corn and rice and 98% barley. 

It works well for diabetics as it is low-carb. So people with diabetes can use it without any major concern. Usually, diabetics should be careful and make sure their sugar level does not go too high or drop too low. So, after drinking beer, you must keep your diabetic level in check to prevent yourself from any serious condition. 

Bud Lite is another good pick if you are diabetic. It encompasses 5 grams of carbs per serving. So you don’t need to worry about your sugar level. Drinking in moderation will not lead to a spike in your sugar level. 

Moreover, it contains 2.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce (360-mL) serving. It has a slightly sweet taste, but some consumer reviews reveal that it has a bit of a bland taste. While it is a safe beer choice for diabetics, you need to be cautious to drink in moderation as per the standard quantity suggested above. The brittle taste makes you feel soothing and energizing at times.

Bottom Line

All in all, alcohol consumption on a moderate level is safe for people with diabetes. Make sure not to drink with an empty stomach to avoid hypoglycemia. Moreover, get one serving of beer that contains almost 12 ounces. You can choose light beers that are low in calories, carbs, and alcohol.

Sources

The 10 Best Types of Alcohol for People with Diabetes

Can people with diabetes drink beer?

Can People With Diabetes Drink Beer?