Blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar levels, can be influenced by alcohol consumption. Interestingly enough, though, different amounts of alcohol can have opposite effects on blood sugar. While moderate amounts of alcohol can create a rise in blood sugar, excessive alcohol consumption can cause blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels. These effects, however, are mostly associated with diabetics.
Blood Glucose and Insulin
Blood glucose can come from three sources: diet, stored glucose and glucose made by the body from other nutrients. The two key hormones that are necessary in regulating blood glucose levels are insulin and glucagon. When blood sugar drops, the body reacts by producing more, and when blood sugar rises, the body releases insulin to maintain balance. Alcohol can affect the amount of blood sugar and the amount of insulin in the body, particularly when drunk in high amounts.
When you consume an alcoholic drink, the alcohol moves directly into the bloodstream without being metabolized in the stomach. It only takes five minutes for alcohol to become detectable in the bloodstream, where it then travels to the liver to be metabolized. For most people it takes about two hours for the liver to metabolize a single drink. If you continue to drink alcohol faster than your liver can metabolize it, the excess alcohol is carried by the bloodstream to the brain and other areas of the body. For those taking insulin -- a hormone that regulates glucose in the blood -- this can lead to low blood sugar because the liver is busy removing alcohol from the bloodstream rather than regulating blood sugar levels.
High Blood Sugar and Hypoglycemia
In frequent drinkers, the body can become less sensitive to insulin, which can result in high blood sugar levels. According to MedicineNet.com, it is common for people with alcoholic liver disease to also have an intolerance to glucose or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association notes that alcohol can also cause hypoglycemia -- blood sugar that is too low. Hypoglycemia can continue 24 hours after alcohol consumption. In response to acute alcohol consumption, the body increases insulin release, which results in less blood sugar. The symptoms of hypoglycemia can mimic those of intoxication: dizziness, disorientation and sleepiness.
Although alcohol can affect blood sugar levels, the American Diabetes Association notes that moderate drinking affects blood glucose levels only slightly. Therefore, people with diabetes can adhere to the same set of rules as nondiabetics for alcohol consumption. Those guidelines include a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
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