[jimhuck]

Hi All,

I love red wine, but since I started focusing on restricting carbs in my diet, I've avoided it except on special occasions.

In the past, I had to be EXTREMELY careful with red wine because it tends to lower my blood glucose, at least initially. I used to have severe lows a couple of hours after drinking a couple of glasses.

First of all....why did that happen? Any ideas. I've heard that it's a common reaction.

Second...what is alcohol and how does your body process it? In a non-diabetic, does it stimulate insulin production? Is Alcohol a carbohydrate?

Sorry for asking such a broad question. I know it's close to a "What is the meaning of life?" type of question.

I will appreciate any input.

[art]

Wine and other "spirits" can lower your Bg level. Usually not a great deal.

Alcohol itself doesn't have carbs. It's what it's mixed with that presents the problem.

A couple of glasses of red wine shouldn't have a massive effect on your Bg.

I'm sure others will provide the detailed scientific answers

Art

[morrisma]

I have the same reaction as you on red wine. Low first then higher later but generally a wash. It depends very much on the sweetness of the wine. AS very dry cab may result in a net lowering while a sweeter red might raise bs a bit.

All consumed alcohol, just like any food is broken down into whatever energy can be obtained from it and insulin is required (for the most part) to utilize that energy. The reason for the delay has to do with the liver action required to break down the alcohol rather than the stomach which acts much more quickly.

Another study item is reversatrol, a component of red wine, that supposedly has some interesting but as yet unproven effects.
Mike

[PERKDOUG]

Originally Posted by jimhuck

In the past, I had to be EXTREMELY careful with red wine because it tends to lower my blood glucose, at least initially.
First of all....why did that happen? Any ideas. I've heard that it's a common reaction.
I will appreciate any input.

I think alcohol disrupts the normal liver function of converting proteins into glucose (gluconeogenesis). Thus you are slowing or stopping a slow constant supply of glucose and you may go low.

[Caravaggio]

To avoid going low, do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. I take diabetes meds and have never gone really low while drinking wine as I drink while having dinner.

[jkane13]

Alcohol does have carbohydrates. It is a very complex one though, and not broken down by the normal set of enzymes. Let me try to get this right. ... I think it is the liver that is used to break the alcohol down into usable carbs. This is why it does not cause the spike you expect. It's a slower process.

I find that it lowers my BS, but when mixed with metaformin, it makes me feel drunk faster, and if I over indulge, much worse for the next couple of days than I used to be before metaformin.