Wine approaching behind water, coffee and tea is one of the most commonly consumed drinks in the world.
The winemaking process has historically been passed down through generations through family and wine apprenticeships and has been promoted not only for its delicious taste, but also for its heart-changing effect, ability to enhance creativity and strengthen social ties, and many health benefits.
So, is wine good for people who live with diabetes?
This article provides an overview of the pros and cons of drinking wine if you live with any type of diabetes, and provides tips on how to make your evening glasses healthier and safer.
Wine basics
Wine is most commonly a drink made from fermented grapes, but there are many other types of wines, including mead (wine made from honey), peach wine, blueberry wine, and cherry wine.
There are also wine coolers made up of wine and fruit juice, which tend to taste sweeter, make them more calorie dense, and add carbohydrates and sugar as well.
However, traditional red, white or rosé wines tend to have a very low sugar as the sugar from the grapes is broken down and converted by the yeast to alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide during the fermentation process.
Unless the wine is artificially sweetened, a typical 5 oz wine (serving size) contains less than 1.5 grams of sugar.
The wine does not contain sugar and is relatively low sugar, but contains a considerable amount of calories. Each 5oz glass contains approximately 120 calories.
What makes wine even more difficult for people with diabetes is the fact that wine is not subject to nutritional labels as other foods and drinks are regulated under the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
The health benefits of wine
Wine (and alcohol in general) is a controversial drink, but studies have shown that moderate drinking wine (especially red wine!) is associated with health benefits in the general population.
Always consult your doctor if you have any addiction issues or are struggling to moderately consume any type of alcohol.
If you choose to drink wine, here are some of the health benefits you may enjoy:
Reduced risk of diabetes complications
A 2010 study in rats showed that daily red wine consumption (and increased consumption of antioxidant resveratrol) reduces the risk of certain diabetic complications, particularly nerve damage.
An additional 2013 survey also confirmed this. However, it is important to note that antioxidant resveratrol can also be found in many other foods.
Resveratrol is also found in peanuts, pistachios, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, dark chocolate and cocoa, and the benefits of red wine (these studies) are directly linked to the resveratrol content of the wine, not necessarily the fact that subjects were drinking the wine.
Reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes
A 2014 French study showed that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in overweight women was actually reduced in individuals who consumed red wine.
Surprisingly, women in the study (ages 10-15) who started drinking wine early in their lives are significantly less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with abstaining for life, indicating the cumulative protective benefits of red wine.
Improve cardiovascular health
A 2019 study proved that drinking red wine correlated with a reduced overall risk of coronary heart disease.
The authors of this study suggest that health benefits are reduced when drinkers consume more consumers than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- 1 glass of wine per day for women
- 2 glasses of wine per day for men
A typical wine contains 12% alcohol per volume.
Consumption of red wine can help lower blood pressure and reduce the chances of a heart attack, as it helps to keep blood vessels healthy.
In 2016, researchers concluded that red wine might help protect people from heart disease due to its gut health benefits. Fermentation of wine is said to help protect the intestinal flora and promote health, including heart health.
Promotes gut health
Furthermore, researchers have found that polyphenols found in wines (particularly blush and red wines) improve gut microbiota and improve gastrointestinal health.
Although research is limited, healthy gut microbiota is associated with brain health, heart health, GI (gastrointestinal) health, lower cancer rates, lower obesity rates, and lower dementia rates.
While red wine resveratrol is particularly potent at protecting against certain types of cancer, the National Cancer Institute correlates high-volume alcohol use with a variety of cancers, including the large intestine, breast, liver, mouth and throat cancers, especially in frequent drinkers.
Longer lifespan
With all the benefits of wine (mainly red wine), it makes sense that drinking it correlates with a longer lifespan.
A popular study in 2000 confirmed this. 45-64 men absorb five drinks a day, resulting in longer lifespans than the occasional heavy drinker. However, it was mainly consumed by red wine, and credited to the antioxidant resveratrol.
There may be a few other factors to consider. They may tend to drink wine, eat Mediterranean meals, have more disposable income, and are more likely to drink socially with friends. All of these factors also contributed to long life spans, which may have distorted the results of these studies.
The dangers of drinking wine
Addictive
Since wine is an alcoholic beverage, wine lovers may also struggle with addiction.
If you feel that you are suffering from alcohol addiction, contact Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Management at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline or call 1-800-662-5-162-662-5-62-5-62-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-662-5-
Weight gain
Wine is not a low-calorie food. Over 100 calories per 5 oz glass, drinking a few glasses per night, several nights a week can quickly lead to weight gain without any nutritional benefits (wine has no vitamins or minerals).
Make sure you balance your wine consumption with healthy eating and regular exercise to reduce calorie differences when indulging.
Work with your doctor to develop a diet and exercise plan that works for you, your diabetes, and your health and fitness goals.
Health issues in life later
Long-term heavy drinking is correlated with a higher risk of diabetes complications, such as metabolic disorders and retinopathy.
It can also cause the accumulation of harmful acids in the blood, increasing the risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and early death. Moderation is important!
Hypoglycemia
Alcohol consumption leads to increased insulin secretion, leading to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia) can also last until the next day. This means that glycogen (glucose) is not released from the liver if blood sugar levels start to drop because the liver is busy processing alcohol content from the drinks the night before.
The more drinks you have, the more likely you are to have hypoglycemia, which is dangerous.
People with diabetes should always carry a glucose tab or another form of quick sugar in cases of severe hypoglycemia. You should also check your blood sugar levels regularly, both during and after drinking.
The risk of alcohol-related hypoglycemia is higher in humans.
- I drink alcohol on a hungry
- You are using insulin or other diabetes medications
- Drink lots of drinks and drinks
It is also important to remember that if you have too much alcohol, some diabetic drugs may not work as well, especially if type 2 diabetes medications are consumed.
If you are planning to take it, you may need to reduce the amount of insulin you take. Check with your doctor before adjusting diabetes management.
We highly recommend reading this guide for alcohol and diabetes before drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages.
Tips for healthier and safer wine consumption
If you choose to consume wine and live with diabetes, here are some tips to make your experience healthier, safer and better.
- To know your blood sugar levels throughout the evening, to prevent low levels, and if your blood sugar levels are currently low, do not start drinking. Always treat hypoglycemia first
- Let other people you are drinking know that you have diabetes and how to help you if you experience hypoglycemia
- Wear a Medic Alert Bracelet and bring your emergency contact number
- Drink moderately. Drink one glass of wine per day for women and one glass of wine per day for men is recommended by the CDC
- Don’t drink on a hungry, and don’t eat foods that are both fat and protein while you drink
- Alternate drinks of all alcoholic beverages with a glass of water (also prevent hangovers!)
- Have a plan (how much do you plan to drink in the evening? How do you safely go home? How do you manage and treat the hypoglycemia you experience?)
Conclusion
People who live with diabetes and drink moderate wine (particularly red wine) may enjoy many health benefits, including improving heart, brain and gut health. Many of these benefits are due to the antioxidant resveratrol found in red wine.
In the presence of diabetes, light to moderate wine consumption is also correlated with lower risk of diabetes complications and lower mortality.
Many people with diabetes can enjoy regular light to medium wine drinking without any problems, especially since the naturally low sugar in their drinks and the tendency to raise blood sugar levels in significant ways.
However, wine is calorie-rich and dense, and has no vitamins or minerals. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to addiction, weight gain, increased cancer and heart disease, and dangerously low blood sugar. This can lead to both short-term and long-term diabetic complications.
It is important for people with diabetes to closely monitor their blood sugar levels while consuming wine and drink them moderately.
People planning on pregnancy, breastfeeding, or pregnancy should not drink alcohol.
People with a history of alcohol use disorder or bulimia disorder should work with their physicians to reduce or eliminate the amount of alcohol they consume for a safer drinking strategy.
