Red Wine and Diabetes

According to the American Heart Association, people that have Type 2 diabetes are two times more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, than people who don’t have diabetes. Some evidence suggests that drinking moderate amounts of red wine could lessen the risk of heart disease. There is also evidence to suggest that having a glass of red wine can lower blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours after consuming, which may be a great edition to your dinner—but needs to be monitored if you are on insulin.

How red wine affects blood sugar

According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking red wine — or any alcoholic beverage — can lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours. Because of this, they recommend checking your blood sugar before you drink, while you drink, and monitoring it for up to 24 hours after drinking.

Intoxication and low blood sugar can share many of the same symptoms, so failing to check your blood glucose could cause others to assume you’re feeling the effects of an alcoholic beverage when in reality your blood sugar may be reaching dangerously low levels.

There is another reason to be mindful of your blood sugar levels while drinking: Some alcoholic beverages, including drinks that use juice or a mixer high in sugar, can increase blood sugar.

Benefits of red wine for people with diabetes

Effects on blood sugar aside, there is some evidence that red wine might provide benefits to people with type 2 diabetes.

A recent study revealed that moderate red wine consumption (defined as one glass per day in this study) can reduce the risks of heart disease in people with well-controlled type 2 diabetes.

In the study, more than 200 participants were monitored for two years. One group had a glass of red wine each night with dinner, one had white wine, and the other had mineral water. All followed a healthy Mediterranean-style diet without any calorie restrictions.

After two years, the red wine group had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or good cholesterol) than they did before, and lower cholesterol levels overall. They also saw benefits in glycemic control. The researchers concluded that drinking moderate amounts of red wine in conjunction with a healthy diet can “modestly decrease” heart disease risks.

What exactly is moderate drinking? It’s one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men. However, that “drink” is a lot smaller than some people think: just five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits. ONLY moderate drinkers have less cardiovascular disease. Those on the opposite ends of the spectrum—people that drink heavily and those that don’t—have a greater risk.

Older studies also reveal associations between moderate red wine intake and health benefits among type 2 diabetics, whether well-controlled or not. Benefits included improved post-meal blood sugar levels, better next morning fasting blood sugar levels, and improved insulin resistance. The review also points out that it may not be the alcohol itself, but rather components of the red wine, like polyphenols (health-promoting chemicals in foods) that confer the benefits.

Key Takeaways

Red wine is loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols and is credited with numerous potential health benefits when you drink it in moderate amounts. People with diabetes who choose to take advantage of these potential benefits should remember: Moderation is key, and timing of alcohol intake with food intake needs to be considered, especially for those on diabetes medicine. Drinking is individualized and there’s no universal rule for how to do it safely when you live with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your drinking habits and they can provide you with tips and tricks on how to drink in a way that works for you.

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.