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The Question
11/19/09 05:13 AM

"Can a 5 oz glass of Wine increase rather than decrease BG levels?"
Asked By: patfried  
Category: Type 1

Background Info Hide
I am a 57 year old woman, diagnosed with Type1 about 9 weeks ago. On 2 occassions I have had a 5 oz glass of wine with dinner and both times my BG levels at bedtime were significantly higher ( 280 or 330), reducing after several hours. I thought that wine lowered BG levels. What could be causing the increase? I would like to be able to drink a glass of wine from time to time but this reaction concerns me.

Expert Answers (1)

11/22/09 10:32 AM

Dear Pat-- Thank-you for contacting dLIfe .com. This is an interesting question. It is very challenging early in the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes to decipher what one tolerates well and what one doesn't.

You did an excellent job looking at a trend and not just one number. Ask yourself some other questions. Did the glass of wine add onto or replace a food serving?

Alcohol is considered 2 fat exchanges surprisingly rather than a carb so did you still have enough carbs.

Being than you are 9 weeks into Type 1 you are still in the Honeymoon phase of diabetes. There will be fluctuations of insulin cells still present from time to time and this makes dosing challenging.

You might consider taking a walk after your next dinner with a glass of wine and see if that will help bring the glucose down to goal level.

The information you have is correct if alcohol is taken without food, it can contribute to lowering glucose. So at this time for you, your logging and trending are important. Keep this documentation and have a discussion with your diabetic educator and or health care provider. Let them know your know that this is important and look for ideas on how to incorporate this into your lifestyle.

Keep up the great work for a healthy future and self management.

Answered By: Janet HowardDucsay
Accreditations: RN BSN CDE
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Community Answers (13)

12/03/09 05:47 PM

I think it also depends on the wine if I am having a high BG in the afternoon a glass of red wine will drop my number but white or rose wine will increase it at first. I am type 1 and when first diagnosed, the first yr, nothing was set in stone. Dont stop your wine. Enjoy Jen
Answered By: straitone
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12/01/09 02:21 PM

THE 57 YR. OLD PERSON NEVER MENTIONED WHAT SHE ATE OR HER INSULIN COVERAGE
Answered By: radhunt
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11/30/09 01:42 PM

Answered By: charlotte58
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11/29/09 12:20 AM

Wine is made from fermented grapes. The carb amount is still very low to zero, despite originating with fruit...but it can cause a rise in BG levels, depending on what else you ingest with it. The alcohol keeps your liver busy detoxing it so you cannot produce glucose in your liver at the same time. On an empty stomach there may be a quick rise...followed by a drop. The BG changes vary from person to person. Bottom line...alcohol is BAD for us. Limit it as much as possible.
Answered By: type2in2006
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11/28/09 04:02 PM

You may be experiencing what is called a "rebound". The liver tries to process most of the alcohol you consume, but stores about 10% of what it can't as fat for quick energy / which LATER may be released as glycogen which turns into glucose. I know this is true for me when testing on a morning fast after having whiskey the night before. You said you ate, so, eliminate that as a factor for containing carbs, and "test in a pair" with just the wine each hour for several hours after drinking. Do you take insulin as a Type 1? Be sure to take it for an amount of carbs in your dinner. 5 oz. is a very small amount, but everyone is different. You might want to concentrate more on the food as the culprit, but definitely test in a pair with just the wine.
Answered By: metfartin
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11/27/09 06:55 PM

Distilled alcohol: Gin, bourbon, whiskey, vodka, etc. is carbless. Zero....nada. Alcohol does pose problems to we diabetics, but it's NOT due to carbs in distilled alcohol.
Answered By: tdpg54
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11/27/09 05:50 PM

I'm now 61 and have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 12. I drink wine regularly - up to 3 glasses an evening. I prefer, and always drink, dry wine, red or white. I don't ike and avoid sweet wines. Some wnes are called "dessert wines" and these are probably the sweetest. It may be one of these that caused the increase in BG. Alcohol does have the effect of lowering BG, but that takes a long time. A sweet wine (or a beer, in my experience) has carbohydrate content that counteracts alcohol's BG-lowering effect. The carbs in those drinks raise BG more quickly than the alcohol lowers it. One other type of alcoholic beverage I avoid is liquor. Distilled drinks - whiskey, gin, vodka, etc. - have such a high alcohol content that the effect scares me off. On the other hand, any type 1 diabetic who really wanted to might just be able to accommodate these, risky as it might be. We take other risks, after all. I have always enjoyed wne and find it has no effect on my blood sugar. I encouage you to exeriment. Trial-and-error is the only way you learn, as a newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetic, what works for you. Wine may not work for you, but if you're interested in trying, I think you should. GOOD LUCK!
Answered By: geraldrl
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