Beer is considered not only a tasty, but also a useful drink, provided that it is consumed in reasonable quantities. In many countries there are a number of beer traditions, and the daily use of this frothy drink is considered to be the norm there. But what about diabetics, because they must always adhere to a special diet, in which there is no place for alcohol?"Is it possible to drink beer with diabetes?" - this question is most often asked by men - diabetics to their treating doctors.
People who do not have diabetes, but who have an elevated blood glucose level, are not advised to drink more bottles of the drink per day. As for diabetics, it is necessary to understand what kind of diabetes is present in humans, and, based on this, draw conclusions about the harmfulness of beer.
Is it possible or not
In case of sugar disease, the body feels insulin deficiency, carbohydrate metabolism is violated and the amount of sugar is increased. Doctors distinguish two types of disease - insulin-dependent( type 1) and insulin-independent( type 2).In the first case, the pancreas either does not produce insulin at all, or produces it in small amounts. With diabetes of the second type, the situation is opposite - insulin is produced even more than required, but the cells stop responding to it.
Regardless of the variety of the disease, diabetics should monitor their condition all their lives and adhere to a certain diet in which there is no place for alcohol. As for beer, this is a controversial issue, because it is also a low-alcohol beverage, but it also contains yeasts, which are useful for the patient of types 1 and 2 of the disease.
It has long been known that brewer's yeast is used to treat diabetes. They contain many fatty acids, protein, so beneficial to the body of a diabetic. Given this factor, many men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes drink an unlimited amount of beer, not counting this drink with alcohol. So is it true that beer for diabetics carries no danger?
Unlike other alcoholic beverages, beer has a high calorie content. In the first hours after its use, the blood sugar rises, and this indicator can last more than 10 hours. Therefore, beer with type 1 diabetes is strictly contraindicated. In type 2 diabetes, beer can be consumed in small amounts. About 300 ml of a foamy drink is permissible to drink to a sick person, but this does not mean that beer should be present daily in the diet. The drink will not cause any particular harm to the body, since its increased caloric content is balanced by a small amount of alcohol. Simply put, alcohol lowers blood sugar, and increases its calories.
Basic rules for drinking beer for diabetics
As it was said earlier, beer of diabetics of the first type is not recommended to drink at all. But from any rule, you can make an exception - if you are strong, you can drink one glass every few months, but remember the following rules:
- You can not drink a beer after heavy physical exertion or after a bath;
- In case of aggravation of any chronic diseases it is strictly forbidden to drink beer;
- When choosing a product, it is best to give preference to low-calorie and light varieties;
- On the day of drinking, you should slightly reduce the constant dose of insulin, and during the day constantly monitor blood glucose levels;
- Drinking is not recommended on an empty stomach, for a couple of hours before consumption, add to the daily diet more fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Observing all the above rules, a diabetic of the first type should not cause deterioration of the general condition of the body. The main thing during a feast is not to exceed the allowed volume of the drink and monitor the glucose level.
According to statistics, most diabetics belong to the second type of disease group. Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail all the possible options for drinking beer.
- You can drink beer with type 2 diabetes only at the time of a stable course of the disease. There should be no sharp jumps of sugar, exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- It is possible to drink 300 ml of a drink not more than twice a week;
- Because of its high carbohydrate content, the patient will have to revise the entire diet for a day. If necessary, replace products with carbohydrates for food, with high fiber content;
- People prone to increased body weight will have to reduce the calorie content of foods that will be consumed during this day;
- To avoid poor health and negative consequences, do not exceed the recommended dose of this low-alcohol drink.
Beer in type 2 diabetes is not recommended to drink on an empty stomach. Dark varieties to enhance the gustatory sensations contain a lot of carbohydrates, which are not needed by the body of a diabetic, so it's better to stop your choice on a light drink.
Side effects of
For some people with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, a drunk glass of intoxicating drink will pass unnoticed, and others may feel malaise and weakness. The first negative symptoms after drinking beer can be: the emergence of thirst, hunger, the skin becomes dry and flaky. There may be more serious consequences - eyesight becomes fuzzy, "flies" appear before the eyes, the body becomes sluggish, the mood is depressed and apathy occurs to others. When the first signs of malaise appear, you must inform your doctor.
Non-alcoholic product
The use of non-alcoholic beer has several advantages over conventional varieties:
- Because of the lack of alcohol in it, the non-alcoholic variant can be drunk without restrictions, but do not forget about reasonable limits;
- Depending on the type of disease, it must be taken into account that beer has high caloric content and increases blood glucose level;
- After a non-alcoholic drink, you do not need to change the dose of insulin of short action;
- The pancreas and other organs do not suffer from the ingestion of alcohol.
Despite the absence of side effects, people with obesity should not drink beer, even in such a non-alcoholic option.
Diabetes mellitus is a serious illness, but after the diagnosis is made, life does not end. The way of life of a person with such a diagnosis is drastically changing. The old habits have to be changed to new ones, to keep to a diet and to give up many favorite things, for example, beer. As practice shows, diabetes and beer are compatible, but with proper use. Diabetic diet allows you to sometimes drink light varieties in small quantities, but subject to certain rules and recommendations.
