8 Things Diabetics Must Pay Attention To When Drinking Alcohol!

China's wine culture has a long history. Drinking wine can enhance the atmosphere of a banquet and bring each other closer to each other. Therefore, there is a folk saying that "there is no banquet without wine". The Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon is approaching. In this festival where relatives and friends gather together and toast to celebrate, "Can people with diabetes drink alcohol" is destined to be another hot topic.

Click to Cistanche for kidney disease

Some people say that drinking alcohol damages the liver, stomach, and brain, and is harmful to people with diabetes. Some people say that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can relax muscles, activate blood circulation, and lower blood sugar. It sounds like each has its truth. This question cannot be answered simply with "yes" or "no", so let's talk about related issues in this area.

1. How does drinking alcohol lower blood sugar?

Drinking alcohol (especially drinking on an empty stomach) can indeed lower blood sugar. This is because ethanol (alcohol) can inhibit two very important chemical reactions in the body - the "gluconeogenesis" and "glycogenolysis" reactions of the liver.

When a person is hungry, the body can use these two reactions to decompose the liver glycogen stored in the body into glucose or convert the stored fat into glucose and release it into the blood to keep blood sugar constant. However, after drinking a large amount of alcohol, because alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis and hepatic glycogenolysis, the glucose-raising pathway is inhibited, resulting in lower blood sugar.

It is undeniable that alcohol can temporarily inhibit the release of glucose from the liver and lower blood sugar, but this effect is not lasting, and long-term drinking can cause damage to the liver, thereby affecting the stability of blood sugar. What's more, drinking too much alcohol can also lead to hypoglycemia. Therefore, for diabetics, it is not advisable and even very dangerous to reduce blood sugar by drinking alcohol.

2. What are the adverse consequences of drinking alcohol?

There has always been a saying that "a small amount of drinking will make you happy, but a large amount of drinking will harm your body." However, some recent studies have found that even a small amount of drinking can increase mortality and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and liver disease. The main harms of long-term drinking include:

1. Cause alcohol-induced hypoglycemia

Alcohol can stimulate insulin secretion and inhibit liver glycogen decomposition, so it has a certain hypoglycemic effect. If a patient drinks excessive alcohol, especially on an empty stomach, because blood sugar cannot be replenished and liver glycogen decomposition is inhibited by alcohol, the patient is prone to hypoglycemia. In severe cases, hypoglycemia may lead to coma and life-threatening consequences. In addition, it should be noted that the clinical manifestations of alcoholic hypoglycemia and drunkenness are very similar. They can both have symptoms such as dizziness, handshaking, drowsiness, and confusion. Do not mistake "drunk hypoglycemia" for "drunkness" and delay the treatment of the patient. treatment. In addition, drinking alcohol can stimulate appetite, lead to overeating, and may also cause blood sugar to rise.

2. Damage to the stomach, liver, and pancreas

Drinking alcohol not only affects blood sugar, but excessive drinking can also damage the gastric mucosa and cause gastric bleeding, damage the liver and cause alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis, and damage the pancreas and islet beta cells, making the already damaged pancreatic function worse, making blood sugar more difficult to control. Therefore, trying to lower blood sugar by drinking alcohol is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst, which is not advisable.

3. Induce gout

Many people with diabetes are also accompanied by hyperuricemia, and drinking alcohol can inhibit the excretion of uric acid through the kidneys and induce or aggravate gout. In addition, long-term heavy drinking can also cause lipid metabolism disorders and aggravate atherosclerosis.

4. Damage to the brain

Long-term drinking may damage the nervous system, causing memory loss, emotional instability, insomnia, and other problems.

5. Reduce drug efficacy

Everyone knows that you cannot drink alcohol while taking cephalosporins. Many hypoglycemic drugs also have this requirement. During the period of insulin injection or oral hypoglycemic drugs (especially sulfonylureas), if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, hypoglycemia may easily occur. In addition, Drinking alcohol after taking biguanides will not only cause hypoglycemia but may also lead to lactic acidosis.

3. Which diabetic patients should avoid alcohol?

Anyone who has any of the following circumstances should abstain from drinking alcohol:

(1) Those with poor blood sugar control, fluctuating highs and lows;

(2) Those who frequently experience hypoglycemia shortly;

(3) Patients with severe acute and chronic complications of diabetes (such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic foot, etc.)

(4) Diabetic patients with severe liver disease and pancreatitis;

(5) Those with severe hyperlipidemia and/or hyperuricemia.

4. Which diabetic patients are allowed to drink a small amount of alcohol?

It is of course best for diabetic patients to quit drinking, but it is indeed difficult in real life. If the patient's condition is mild, there are no serious diabetic complications or complications, blood sugar is well controlled (fasting blood sugar <7.8mmol/L), and liver function is normal, it is allowed to drink a small amount of alcohol under the guidance of a doctor.

5. Precautions for diabetic patients when drinking alcohol

Unlike ordinary people, diabetics have some special requirements for drinking alcohol:

1. Strictly limit the amount

The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommends that adult men should not exceed 25g of alcohol per day, and adult women should not exceed 15g of alcohol per day. 25g of alcohol is approximately equivalent to 400 ml of beer (containing 4% alcohol), 150 ml of wine (containing approximately 10% alcohol), or 50 ml of low-alcohol liquor. It is not advisable to drink alcohol more than twice a week.

2. Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach

Especially for diabetic patients who inject medium- and long-acting insulin or take hypoglycemic drugs at night, they must eat staple food before drinking, and avoid drinking a lot of alcohol on an empty stomach at dinner to avoid severe hypoglycemia and coma at night.

3. Avoid substituting alcohol for food

Alcohol is a "blank calorie" food, that is, it only contains calories and does not contain any nutrients. The carbohydrates contained in alcohol are generally not included in the daily energy intake, and food intake cannot be reduced due to drinking alcohol.

4. Choose low-alcohol wine

Try to choose wine with low alcohol content, such as wine, beer, etc. It is forbidden to drink highly potent liquor.

5. Avoid drinking too quickly

It takes a certain amount of time for alcohol to be catabolized by the liver. Drinking too much alcohol too quickly will increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

6. Pay attention to drug contraindications

Before drinking, you should know in advance whether the drugs you are currently taking contraindicate alcohol. If there are contraindications, then absolutely do not drink.

7. Monitor blood sugar

Monitor blood sugar levels before and after drinking: It is recommended that diabetic patients pay attention to monitoring blood sugar levels before and after drinking and within 24 hours. To ensure the stability of blood sugar, it is recommended to test before going to bed. Especially for diabetic patients with symptoms of drunkenness, it is necessary to prevent hypoglycemia from being mistaken for drunkenness and delaying treatment, which may lead to serious consequences.

8. Never drive after drinking

There are two reasons: ① Alcohol will reduce brain reactivity and movement coordination; ② Drinking on an empty stomach can easily cause hypoglycemia and cause disturbance of consciousness.

To sum up, drinking alcohol for diabetic patients has more disadvantages than benefits. For their health, it is not recommended for diabetic patients to drink alcohol, let alone use alcohol as a hypoglycemic medicine to replace hypoglycemic drugs. If it is impossible to avoid it, the patient can drink a small amount of beer or red wine if the condition permits, but remember not to indulge in heavy drinking.

How Does Cistanche Treat Kidney Disease?

Cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat various health conditions, including kidney disease. It is derived from the dried stems of Cistanche deserticola, a plant native to the deserts of China and Mongolia. The main active components of cistanche are phenylethanoid glycosides, echinacoside, and acteoside, which have been found to have beneficial effects on kidney health.

Kidney disease, also known as renal disease, is a condition in which the kidneys are not functioning properly. This can result in a buildup of waste products and toxins in the body, leading to various symptoms and complications. Cistanche may help treat kidney disease ase through several mechanisms.

Firstly, cistanche has been found to have diuretic properties, meaning it can increase urine production and help eliminate waste products from the body. This can help relieve the burden on the kidneys and prevent the buildup of toxins. By promoting diuresis, cistanche may also help Reduce high blood pressure, a common complication of kidney disease.

Moreover, cistanche has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's antioxidant defenses, plays a key role in the progression of kidney disease. ies help neutralize free radicals and reduce Oxidative stress, thereby protecting the kidneys from damage. The phenylethanoid glycosides found in cistanche have been particularly effective in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Additionally, cistanche has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is another key factor in the development and progression of kidney disease. Cistanche's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the activation of inflammation mandatory pathways, thus alleviating inflammation in the kidneys.

Furthermore, cistanche has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. In kidney disease, the immune system can be dysregulated, leading to excessive inflammation and tissue damage. Cistanche helps regulate the immune response by modulating the production and activity of immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages. This immune regulation helps reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to the kidneys.

Moreover, cistanche has been found to improve renal function by promoting the regeneration of renal tubes with cells. Renal tubular epithelial cells play a crucial role in the filtration and reabsorption of waste products and electrolytes. In kidney disease, these cells can be damaged, leading to damaged renal function. Cistanche's ability to promote the regeneration of these cells helps restore proper renal function and improve overall kidney health.

In addition to these direct effects on the kidneys, cistanche has been found to have beneficial effects on other organs and systems in the body. This holistic approach to health is particularly important in kidney disease, as the condition often affects multiple organs and systems. che has been shown to have protective effects on the liver, heart, and blood vessels, which are commonly affected by kidney disease. By promoting the health of these organs, cistanche helps improve overall kidney function and prevent further complications.

In conclusion, cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat kidney disease. Its active components have diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects, which help improve renal function and protect the kidneys from further damage. , cistanche has beneficial effects on other organs and systems, making it a holistic approach to treating kidney disease.