Looking for the best alcohol choices when you have diabetes? You want drinks that keep things simple and safe. Here are the top picks: Canned Beers, dry wines, spirits, hard seltzers, light beers, champagne, vodka soda, gin and tonic, tequila, and whiskey. These drinks have fewer carbs and sugars. They help you manage your blood sugar better. Pick low-ABV options, and you can enjoy a drink without worry.
Key Takeaways
Pick drinks with little sugar and carbs like spirits, dry wines, light beers, and hard seltzers. These drinks help keep your blood sugar steady.
Always look at labels for carbs and sugar. This helps you avoid hidden sugars that can make blood sugar go up fast.
Drink only a small amount and check your blood sugar before, while, and after you drink. This helps you stay safe.
Do not drink sweet cocktails, regular beers, dessert wines, or pre-mixed drinks. These have lots of sugar and carbs.
Eat some food before you drink and use mixers without sugar. This helps stop low blood sugar and keeps your drinks safer.
Top Choices
![Top Choices]()
Canned Beers
You might think all beers are off-limits, but that's not true. Canned Beers can be a smart choice if you pick the right ones. Many brands now offer options with fewer carbs and less sugar. These drinks help you keep your blood sugar steady.
Here are some great Canned Beers to try:
Budweiser Select 55: 1.9g carbs, 2.4% ABV
Amstel Light: 5g carbs, 3.5% ABV
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA: 3.6g carbs, 4% ABV
Corona Premier: 2.6g carbs, 4% ABV
Beck's Premier Light: 3.2g carbs, 2.3% ABV
Tip: Always check the label for carb content. Not all Canned Beers are the same.
Canned Beers like these have less sugar and fewer carbs than regular beers. You get the taste without the big spike in blood sugar.
Dry Wines
Dry wines are another good pick. They have less sugar than sweet wines. You can enjoy a glass of dry red or white wine without worrying too much about your blood sugar.
Some popular dry wines:
Cabernet Sauvignon: 3-4g carbs per 5 oz, 13-14% ABV
Pinot Grigio: 3g carbs per 5 oz, 12% ABV
Sauvignon Blanc: 2.7g carbs per 5 oz, 12-13% ABV
Dry wines work well for people with diabetes because they have less sugar. Just remember to stick to one glass.
Spirits
Spirits like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey have zero carbs. You can drink them straight or mix them with sugar-free mixers. Spirits are strong, so you only need a little.
Examples:
Vodka: 0g carbs per 1.5 oz, 40% ABV
Gin: 0g carbs per 1.5 oz, 40% ABV
Rum: 0g carbs per 1.5 oz, 40% ABV
Note: Avoid flavored spirits. They often have added sugar.
Hard Seltzers
Hard seltzers are light, bubbly, and low in carbs. Many brands make hard seltzers with only 1-2g carbs per can. These drinks are easy to find and come in many flavors.
Top picks:
White Claw Hard Seltzer: 2g carbs, 5% ABV
Truly Hard Seltzer: 1g carbs, 5% ABV
Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer: 0g carbs, 4.5% ABV
Hard seltzers are great for people with diabetes because they have little sugar and are refreshing.
Light Beers
Light beers are a classic choice. They have fewer carbs and calories than regular beers. This means they have a smaller effect on your blood sugar.
Here’s a quick look at how light beers compare to regular beers:
Beer Type | Carbohydrates (grams per 12 oz) | Calories (per 12 oz) | Impact on Blood Glucose |
Light Beers | 2.4 - 4.8 | Lower (e.g., Miller64: 64 cal) | Lower glucose impact due to fewer carbs |
Regular Beers | 6.9 - 13.9 | Higher (e.g., Budweiser: 145 cal) | Higher glucose impact due to more carbs |
Some good light beers:
Miller64: 2.4g carbs, 2.8% ABV
Michelob Ultra: 2.6g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Coors Light: 5g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Light beers help you enjoy a cold drink without a big jump in blood sugar.
Champagne
Champagne can feel fancy, but it’s also a smart choice. Brut or extra brut champagnes have less sugar than sweet ones.
Stick to dry styles. You get the bubbles without the sugar.
Vodka Soda
Vodka soda is simple and safe. You mix vodka with soda water. There’s no sugar, and you can add a squeeze of lime for flavor.
This drink keeps your carb count at zero.
Gin and Tonic
Gin and tonic is a classic. If you use diet tonic water, you keep the sugar low.
Tip: Regular tonic water has sugar. Always choose diet or sugar-free.
Tequila
Tequila is another spirit with zero carbs. You can sip it neat or mix it with soda water and lime.
Tequila gives you a bold flavor without raising your blood sugar.
Whiskey
Whiskey has no carbs. You can drink it straight or with ice. Some people like to add a splash of water.
Note: Flavored whiskeys may have added sugar. Stick to plain whiskey.
You have many choices when it comes to alcohol and diabetes. Canned Beers, dry wines, spirits, hard seltzers, and light beers all offer low-carb, low-sugar options. These drinks help you enjoy a night out without worrying about your blood sugar.
Why These Are Better
Low Carb
When you have diabetes, carbs can quickly raise your blood sugar. Drinks with fewer carbs help you keep things steady. If you pick low-carb alcohol, you lower the chance of a sudden spike. You also make it easier to count your carbs for the day.
Low-carb drinks like spirits, dry wines, and light beers usually have less than 5 grams of carbs per serving.
Regular beers or sweet cocktails can have 10 grams or more.
Tip: Always check the label or ask about carb content. Some drinks surprise you with hidden carbs.
Low Sugar
Sugar is another thing you want to watch. High-sugar drinks can cause your blood sugar to jump fast. Low-sugar options help you avoid those sharp rises and crashes.
Here’s a quick look at how sugar stacks up:
Drink Type | Sugar (grams per serving) |
Dry Wine | 0.5 - 1 |
Hard Seltzer | 0 - 2 |
Regular Cocktail | 10+ |
You can see that dry wines and hard seltzers keep sugar low. Sweet cocktails and dessert wines do not.
Note: Flavored spirits and mixers often hide extra sugar. Stick with plain or diet mixers.
Low ABV
Alcohol by volume (ABV) tells you how strong a drink is. Lower ABV means less alcohol in your system. This helps you avoid big swings in blood sugar. It also lowers your risk of hypoglycemia, especially if you take insulin or other diabetes meds.
Light beers and some hard seltzers have ABV around 2-5%.
Spirits and regular wines have higher ABV, so drink less or dilute with mixers.
Choosing low-ABV drinks lets you enjoy a night out and keep your health in check. You stay in control and feel better the next day.
Remember: You can have fun and stay safe by picking drinks that are low in carbs, sugar, and alcohol. Your body will thank you!
Alcohol and Blood Sugar
![Alcohol and Blood Sugar]()
Hypoglycemia Risk
Drinking alcohol can lower your blood sugar. This can lead to hypoglycemia, which means your blood sugar drops too low. You might feel shaky, dizzy, or confused. Sometimes, you may even faint. If you take insulin or certain diabetes pills, you have a higher risk.
Here are some signs of hypoglycemia to watch for:
Sweating
Fast heartbeat
Blurry vision
Weakness
Tip: Always carry a snack with you when you drink. If you start to feel any of these symptoms, eat something right away.
Delayed Effects
Alcohol does not always affect your blood sugar right away. Sometimes, your blood sugar can drop several hours after you drink. This can even happen while you sleep. Your liver works to break down alcohol, so it stops making glucose for your body. That means your blood sugar can fall later, not just while you are drinking.
You can stay safe by:
Checking your blood sugar before bed
Eating a small snack if your blood sugar is low or dropping
Letting someone know you have diabetes if you plan to drink
Note: Delayed lows can sneak up on you. Set an alarm to check your blood sugar if you drink in the evening.
Medication Interactions
Some diabetes medicines do not mix well with alcohol. Alcohol can make side effects worse or change how your medicine works. For example, mixing alcohol with insulin or sulfonylureas can make your blood sugar drop too low.
Here’s a quick table to help you:
Medication Type | Alcohol Risk |
Insulin | High risk of lows |
Metformin | Risk of lactic acidosis |
Sulfonylureas | High risk of lows |
DPP-4 inhibitors | Lower risk |
Alert: Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe to drink with your medication. Stay informed and protect your health.
Safe Drinking Tips
Monitor Blood Sugar
You need to keep an eye on your blood sugar when you drink. Alcohol can make your levels go up or down. Check your blood sugar before you start drinking. If you plan to have more than one drink, check again during the night. Always check before you go to bed.
Tip: Bring your blood glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) if you have one. This helps you stay safe and catch any changes early.
Eat Before Drinking
Never drink on an empty stomach. Food helps slow down how fast your body absorbs alcohol. Eating before you drink can help prevent low blood sugar.
Some good snacks include:
Note: Choose snacks with protein and healthy carbs. These keep your blood sugar steady.
Choose Mixers Wisely
Mixers can add a lot of sugar to your drink. Pick sugar-free or diet mixers. Soda water, diet tonic, or unsweetened iced tea work well.
Here’s a quick guide:
Mixer | Sugar (per 8 oz) |
Regular soda | 24g |
Juice | 20g |
Diet soda | 0g |
Soda water | 0g |
Limit Intake
Stick to one or two drinks. More than that can make it hard to control your blood sugar. Drinking less also lowers your risk of accidents or feeling sick.
Reminder: The American Diabetes Association suggests no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.
When to Avoid Alcohol
Sometimes, you should skip alcohol. If your blood sugar is low, do not drink. If you feel sick, tired, or are taking new medicine, wait until you feel better.
Alert: Always listen to your body. If you feel unsure, it’s okay to say no to alcohol.
Drinks to Avoid
Not every drink works well for people with diabetes. Some types of alcohol can send your blood sugar on a rollercoaster ride. You want to know which ones to skip? Let’s break it down.
Sweet Cocktails
Sweet cocktails might taste great, but they pack a lot of sugar and carbs. Drinks like margaritas, piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos often use syrups, fruit juice, or soda. These mixers can spike your blood sugar fast.
Examples of high-sugar cocktails:
Margarita (up to 30g sugar per serving)
Piña Colada (over 40g sugar per serving)
Long Island Iced Tea (up to 33g sugar per serving)
Tip: If you crave a cocktail, ask for a “skinny” or sugar-free version.
Regular Beer
Regular beer has more carbs than light or low-carb options. One bottle can have as much as 13g of carbs. If you drink more than one, the carbs add up quickly.
Beer Type | Carbs (per 12 oz) |
Regular Beer | 10-13g |
Light Beer | 2-5g |
You might enjoy the taste, but regular beer can make blood sugar harder to manage.
Dessert Wines
Dessert wines taste sweet for a reason. They contain lots of sugar. Port, sherry, and Moscato are some of the biggest offenders. Even a small glass can have 10g or more of sugar.
Dessert wines to avoid:
Port
Sherry
Moscato
Sauternes
Note: Stick with dry wines if you want to keep sugar low.
Pre-Mixed Drinks
Pre-mixed drinks seem easy, but they often hide a lot of sugar and carbs. Many canned cocktails, wine coolers, and alcopops use sweeteners and fruit juice.
Watch out for:
Smirnoff Ice
Mike’s Hard Lemonade
Seagram’s Escapes
These drinks can have 20g or more of sugar in one bottle.
Alert: Always check the label. If you see sugar or corn syrup high on the list, put it back on the shelf.
You have plenty of smart options when you want a drink. Choose light beers, dry wines, spirits, or hard seltzers to keep carbs and sugar low. Remember, moderation keeps you safe. Always check your blood sugar and talk to your doctor if you have questions.
Enjoy your drink, but listen to your body. You can have fun and stay healthy at the same time!
FAQ
Can you drink alcohol if you have diabetes?
Yes, you can enjoy alcohol if you have diabetes. You just need to choose low-carb, low-sugar drinks and watch your blood sugar. Always drink in moderation and check with your doctor first.
What is the safest alcohol for people with diabetes?
Spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila are safe choices. Dry wines and light beers also work well. These drinks have little or no sugar and fewer carbs.
How does alcohol affect your blood sugar?
Alcohol can make your blood sugar drop, especially if you drink on an empty stomach. Sometimes, the effect happens hours later. Always check your blood sugar before and after drinking.
Can you mix alcohol with diabetes medication?
Some diabetes medicines do not mix well with alcohol. You could have a higher risk of low blood sugar. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist before you drink.
