Though moderate consumption of alcohol may have health benefits for some people, excessive use can lead to many health conditions or worsen complications that patients already face.

Drinking alcohol is not a wise choice for everyone. Some conditions and medications are not compatible with alcohol. Many people with diabetes can safely consume moderate amounts of alcohol under certain conditions. Diabetes patients should consume alcohol only when:

• Their physician has decided it is safe for them
• Their diabetes is under control
• They are aware of how alcohol can affect them and their diabetes
• They have eaten first

Patients should not exceed their physician’s guidelines for consumption. The general recommended daily maximum is one drink for a woman and two drinks for a man.

Alcohol can increase the risk of diabetic complications including neuropathy, retinopathy and sexual dysfunction. It interferes with glucagon, an emergency treatment for severe hypoglycemia. Some patients may be instructed to abstain from alcohol, such as those with hypoglycemia unawareness or gastroparesis.

Patients who decide to consume alcohol must prepare themselves and the people around them for the risk of hypoglycemia. This risk is greatest for people taking insulin or antidiabetic agents.

Patients trying to control their weight will also have to incorporate the additional calories from the alcohol into their meal plan.

For nondiabetics, heavy use of alcohol is a risk factor for diabetes as well as other diseases. Yet some research indicates that modest consumption of alcohol may help prevent diabetes and some other conditions, such as heart disease.