The affects of Coffee and/or Alcohol on blood sugar

Diseases & Conditions Diabetes
1
 I am one who over the years has habitually consummed three cups of coffee in the morning, then none for the balance of the day. I also have two to three glasses of red wine every night with dinner.
 
Depending on who I speak with this is ok and/or something I should stop immediately. What say you all?
 
cago
2
Depending on whom you are consulting... do they have a degree on the wall with a big fat M.D. on it? (lol) Both coffee and red wine have been found to have benefits for health but the secret is moderation... I mean dark chocolate is good for you, too, in small quantities. (DARN!)

If this were me I'd keep the wine to one glass. Alcohol (in diabetics) can wreak havoc on your sugars and liver... Don't want the benefits to be erased by liver problems.

I heard somewhere that the South American tribes that discovered coffee thought it was a gift from the gods... I believe they were right. If you're not having high blood pressure problems or stomach ailments from the coffee.. Hey, Life is Short! Enjoy your coffee! It's not like you're stuffing down jelly donuts every morning.

I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion, but I believe you have found some nice things that add to the enjoyment of your day. Sounds fine to me.

~ Jeannie

"As one goes through life one learns if you don't paddle your own canoe you don't move."
-Katherine Hepburn

"Madness takes its toll.
Please have exact change."

3
I think Jeannie said it all. Coffee is okay as long as you don't use sugar(I use Stevia) or milk. Actually, I stopped coffee except when I am out somewhere..

Drink dry wine that is not flavored with fruits.....
4

Quite agree with the previous posts.

Personally, I wouldn't want to live in a world without wine and am eternally grateful that dry reds and whites seem to help me keep my BS in a normal range. I'm a Type 1, my BS rarely strays over 100 and I like to think a couple of glasses of wine in the evening are a contributing factor. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc and I have become close personal friends over the years. The lack of sugar coupled with the alcohol seems to prevent a rise in BS and of course the antioxidants are another significant benefit.

I like an occassional coffee and I find that black or with full cream it has no effect on my BS. I try to avoid semi-skimmed milk as it has more carbs and that does tend to push the sugars higher.

Cheers!

fergusc

5
My hubby's dr.told him "either you stop drinking alcohol,or go on Insulin.He stopped drinking his beer.Any alcohol will raise your BS...........

SnowyLynne

6
Depends on his choice of beer to a large degree! I find many American beers very sugary and avoid them for that very reason. I don't know if you have access to a German beer called Holsten Pils but many European beers like this have all sugar turned to alcohol so will hardly effect blood sugar. They are an aquired taste if you're not used to them but with perseverence your hubby will come to appreciate them.

It's not the alcohol that raises blood sugar!

fergusc
7
Dear Fergusc,
 
I notice that you mention simi-skim milk as having carbs. Today, for breakfast I had my usual cup of old fashioned oats, 6ounces of my wife's fat free lactaid, some canned blue berries and a half banana. 1.5 hrs afterwards my bs was 166 and 2.5 hrs later it was 129. Somewhat higher numbers than I expected. 3.5 hours later it was 102.
 
Last night I had a cup of linguini garlic/oil, two Italian sausages/marinara sauce, a small Italian bread roll dipped in the sauce and salad with creamy garlic dressing. Washed it down with two glasses of vino tinto. Two hours later my bs was 116.
 
As, I usually take my bs in the morning upon waking and the reading is normally 102-112 or so. Today it was 126. I was surprised to see it so high in the morning after the good two hour reading last night after dinner. I guess the pasta and bread caused the higher morning bs/or maybe not, so tonight I will try baked chicken, zucchini and some red wine without the bread or pasta and see what happens in the morning. 
 
Thanks for you comments and the tip on the milk.
8

Hi cago,

Your body is doing a really good job of handling sugar if you only spiked at 166 (90 mins after a meal should be your peak) and fairly quickly you fell to 102. Most doctors wouldn't even blink an eye at those kinds of results....they're very good.

What you eat the night before can have an effect on your fasting blood sugar but so can the "dawn effect" where the liver dumps excess sugar while you sleep.  An occasional number at 126 when you usually run under this isn't going to hurt anything.  As you said, it may simply be an indication of good living the night before!!  Congrats on such good numbers.

scool Warren
9
Warren,

Thank you for your leveling prospective. Sometimes this gets a little overwhelming and confusing. I am glad to have you folks for back-up.

Cago
10

I don't drink at all but I've heard that a glass of wine helps with the postprandial spikes. 

I might try it sometime.

 
GG

11
about caffine, I also stopped drinking it about 2 years ago but one of the last cups I enjoyed was with a sausage bisquit and hash browns from Mickey D's. I checked my BS an hour later and it was up over 200.

It wasn't that important to me so I gave up both caffine and fast food.

I really can't believe that I am so healthy at this point in my life. I used to smoke, eat fast food all the time and I never got much exercise. Glad I changed my wicked ways when I did. I feel so much better now.

 
GG

12
I live in Scotland where we don't exactly have a reputation for healthy eating. Other diabetics I know are bucking the trend however and eating healthier than ever before. By this I mean cutting right back on the starchy carbohydrates - bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc.

I notice some of you guys are still including these sorts of things in your diets. Can I ask what sort of insulin dosages you are taking to cover this?

fergusc
13
fergusc said...
I live in Scotland where we don't exactly have a reputation for healthy eating. Other diabetics I know are bucking the trend however and eating healthier than ever before. By this I mean cutting right back on the starchy carbohydrates - bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc.

I notice some of you guys are still including these sorts of things in your diets. Can I ask what sort of insulin dosages you are taking to cover this?

fergusc
I don't take insulan.  I'm T2 taking Metformin and Amaryl.

 
GG