Drinking When You Have Diabetes – Can You Still Enjoy Italian Wine

You’ve been to the doctor’s and you have the diagnosis…

Diabetes.

You’d hoped that it wouldn’t happen but it has. And now, you’ve got to prepare yourself with changes in your diet and doing what you can to manage their condition. You’re start reading all of the literature and contemplating the changes that you’ve got to make in your life.

And that’s when it hits you.

You’ve always enjoy a glass or two of Italian wine during the evenings. But this diagnosis means that you have to be more careful than ever before when it comes to what you put into your body.

Can you still drink wine when you have diabetes?

The Answer…

Yes, you can!

But that comes with some caveats. As we mentioned, you’ve got to be a lot more careful about what you’re eating and drinking with this condition. And as wine contains both alcohol and natural sugars, there’s potential for things to go a little wrong if you’re not careful.

Interestingly, there’s also some evidence to suggest that wine can prove beneficial for people who have diabetes. Some studies tell us that it offers massive improvements to heart health. But again, there are some caveats. The condition has to be very well-managed before you can experience these benefits.

And that’s what we’re going to help you with in this article.

These are the tips that you need to know for drinking Italian wine when you have diabetes.

Be Careful About Blood Sugar Levels

There’s an interesting dichotomy when it comes to alcohol and its effects on your blood sugar levels.

Drinking a small amount will likely to cause your sugar levels to rise. You need to account for this before drinking by ensuring your levels are appropriate for the glass of wine you’re about to consume.

But if you overindulge, the situation reverses!

Too much wine can lead to your blood sugar dropping. This is a dangerous thing for diabetics too, especially those with Type-1 diabetes.

So, it’s all about balance. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and stop drinking if you see that they’re going above or below what they’re supposed to be.

Always Drink With Food

Italian wine on an empty stomach isn’t a great idea at the best of times. It will lead to you getting drunk quicker and could lead to you feeling ill if you’re not controlling your drinking.

However, the issue becomes worse for those who have diabetes. And again, it comes down to those blood sugar levels. You might send them into chaos if wine is the only thing that’s in your system.

That’s why it’s important to eat as you drink. And ideally, the meal will contain plenty of protein to counteract the effects of the wine.

Of course, this is great for people who relish in finding the perfect Italian wines for their meals. Now, you have an excuse to keep doing it. After all, you can only have a drink when you’re eating.

But what happens if you’re out and about and just fancy a glass of wine?

Try to eat a protein-rich snack before you order a glass. And again, try to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels to make sure everything’s where it should be.

Check Your Medications

This is a really important one.

There are so many medications that you might have to take as a diabetic to help you regulate the levels of various chemicals and hormones in your body. And each of these medications comes with a set of ingredients that could potentially react poorly when exposed to alcohol.

Do not take any risks here.

Research the ingredients on your medications to see if any of them have side-effects related to alcohol consumption. And if you’re in any way uncertain, make sure that you talk to a doctor before having a drink. If you’re lucky, none of your medications will clash with your desire to drink wine.

But if they do, you may have to avoid alcohol altogether.

Be Wary of Overeating

Anybody who’s found themselves snacking after a couple of glasses of wine knows that alcohol is an appetite stimulant. Simply put, the more you drink the hungrier you may feel.

For the average person, this might just mean a little bit of overindulgence that leads to a couple of extra pounds to shift.

But for a diabetic, that extra snacking can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. Again, it’s all about paying attention to what you’re putting into your body and keeping track of your blood sugar levels. If you get the urge to snack, it’s likely best to drink a glass of water and check yourself before making that snack.

Always Have Breakfast After A Night Where You Drink

The dreaded hangover can get so much worse when it’s accompanied with plummeting blood sugar levels. It’s a potentially lethal combination if you’re not careful.

If you’ve had a few drinks during the evening, try to drink a pint of water before you go to bed. This will rehydrate you and help your body to process the alcohol more efficiently.

When you wake up, get more water into your system and do not skip breakfast. Check your blood sugar levels and eat something that will ensure the wine that you drank the night before doesn’t cause some serious issues later in the day.

The Final Word

The good news is that you’re usually able to drink Italian wine when you’re diabetic. This assumes that you’re not taking any medications that could cause adverse reactions.

The bad news is that you have to be a lot careful about how much you drink and how you drink it. But this becomes easier over time, especially as you become accustomed to managing your diet as a diabetic.

Just be careful and check your blood sugar levels regularly to ensure you don’t run into any issues. And if you have any concerns, make sure that you talk to a doctor.