I know an alcoholic who has diabetes. I seem to remember reading that booze metabolizes into some form of sugar, making it really bad for a diabetic to drink.

What does your body biochemistry do with booze? Does anyone know a link to such information?

I know an alcoholic who has diabetes. I seem to remember reading that booze metabolizes into some form of sugar, making it really bad for a diabetic to drink.

What does your body biochemistry do with booze? Does anyone know a link to such information?

Hello, Dino,

No, it's not a matter of metabolism products but rather the fact the the liver cannot do two things at the same time very well. It's the job of the liver to introduce glucose into the bloodstream and also to remove toxins - like alcohol.

If it's too busy working on the alcohol, it doesn't produce enough glucose and the diabetic can suffer an episode of low blood sugar.

It is OK for a diabetic to drink, but they should never do so on an empty stomach and ALWAYS in moderation.

Just a quick Google search on "diabetes + alcohol" will easily confirm this.

Yup...

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/alcohol.jsp

I seem to remember reading that booze metabolizes into some form of sugar...


Yes, that part is true. Ethanol is metabolised (via some intermediates) into acetate which is a very simple sugar. Acetate can be utilised as an energy source by our cells, or it can be converted into fatty acids for energy storage. But this has nothing to do with glucose metabolism and diabetes.

From the link above:

"Normally, when your blood sugar level starts to drop, your liver steps in. It goes to work changing stored carbohydrate into glucose. Then it sends the glucose out into the blood, which helps you avoid or slow down a low blood sugar reaction.

However, when alcohol enters your system, this changes. Alcohol is a toxin. Your body reacts to alcohol like a poison. The liver wants to clear it from the blood quickly. In fact, the liver won't put out glucose again until it has taken care of the alcohol. If your blood glucose level is falling, you can quickly wind up with very low blood sugar."

...when alcohol enters your system, this changes. Alcohol is a toxin. Your body reacts to alcohol like a poison. The liver wants to clear it from the blood quickly. In fact, the liver won't put out glucose again until it has taken care of the alcohol. If your blood glucose level is falling, you can quickly wind up with very low blood sugar."Partially, because it is reportedly good for you (I doubt for me)* I have taken about one ounce or less of alcohol (in fruit glass of fruit juice) just before going to bed for several years.

The thing I am sure of is that I do not awake to urinate all night long (Often a problem with older people.) if I have my "nightly shot." Can you explain why this is so?
----------------------------
*I strongly suspect that the positive effects of modest Alcohol consumption have more to do with its tendency to make tense people relax. I am retired and very relaxed already. I just do what I like as well off financially and not at all concerned about what people think of me. Thus, I think in my case there may be zero benefit to my life expectancy of my nightly night cap.

What do you think? Have any of the positive effect studies even tried to control for the "tension reduction" effect? All I have read try to find some biochemical process as the reason for the positive effect on life expectancy.

Partially, because it is reportedly good for you...


I don’t know anything about this; maybe someone else will provide some more info. I was not under the impression that ethanol itself was of any medical benefit, but rather it was other compounds in some alcoholic drinks that provided some benefit. The most well-known example is various compounds found in red wine.

I don’t know anything about this; maybe someone else will provide some more info. I was not under the impression that ethanol itself was of any medical benefit, but rather it was other compounds in some alcoholic drinks that provided some benefit. The most well-known example is various compounds found in red wine.For several years, it was thought that some of the esters anti-oxidents etc in red wine (a very complex organic mix, with some agent also known to be harmful) were responsible for stastically slight reduction in CVA etc. But in the last few years, even vodica, gin etc seem to be just as effective. - Sorry I no longer have references. - Search some and I am sure you will find more.

But you did not tell me why a shot at bed time removes the need to get up in the early hours of morning to empty my bladder. Do you know?