By: Charles Hermann

Alcohol may be able to lower your fasting blood glucose

This is an interesting topic as many people who have gone for their fasting glucose test are determined to bring their blood sugar levels down.

So here it goes, drinking alcoholic beverages can lower your fasting blood glucose levels. Nevertheless, do not take this as a treatment and don't let this lull you into irresponsibility.

How alcohol works in the body

Today, many medical sources say that the ethanol in alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis, which is the new (neo) making (genesis) of glucose (gluco). So, Gluconeogenesis occurs primarily in the liver and is one way your body supplies glucose to tissues during an overnight fast. If you have gone in for your fasting blood glucose test and you were diagnosed with pre diabetes or diabetes, make sure you follow proper treatment as prescribed by specialists. Even though alcohol may appear to lower your blood sugar level, always drink this with moderation and with the authorization from your personal doctor.

In other words, if when you abstain from food intake over a given period of time, your body uses its liver stores of glucose/glycogen for energy. O

nce this reserve is depleted, the liver begins to search for glucose from other sources. Alcohol in this case stops the liver from making glucose, so if you haven't eaten, you run the risk of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). The glucose lowering effect of your alcohol intake has been documented to last for a whole day. The most common misconception about alcohol is that it eventually turns to sugar...this is 100% false. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol can actually lower your blood glucose as explained above.

Nevertheless, a few words of caution are necessary at this point:

1. Always speak to your doctor before taking any action in regards to alcohol. Your personal condition always has exceptions.

2. If you do consume alcohol, be sure to check your blood glucose levels before and after consumption

3. Never consume alcohol with an empty stomach and DO NOT take alcohol as a replacement for your medication, your exercise and your proper die

4. If you are going to consume alcohol, then it should be ONE drink. One drink is defined as: 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of spirits. According to the ADA (American diabetes Association) women should consume no more than one alcoholic drink a day and no more than 2drinks/day for men.

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