ACCOUNTING FOR LIFE SAVING NUMBERS 3: Alcohol can be good for diabetics

Numbers in these posts are for heads-up information only and should not be used as substitute for regular check-ups and competent medical advice.

The Glycemic Index (GI), a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels, uses glucose as the reference food with an assigned value of 100 (the higher the GI, the greater danger of high blood sugar levels).

Alcohol has a low GI. If the diabetic can control alcohol intake, small amounts can control blood sugar level. Some studies have shown that one drink prior to a meal reduces the GI of the meal by about 15%. The problem however is that not many can limit themselves to one drink.

Excessive amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to a dangerously low level (specially if little food has been taken) and can result in hypoglycemia. Beer has a higher GI than hard drinks.

info from http://www.glycemicindex.com/ and http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/estimates07.htm#1
graphics by Ren Garcia