For people with prediabetes and diabetes, choosing foods with a low glycemic index that are also hydrating provides a double win. One 20-ounce bottle of Lemon-lime Gatorade contains a whopping 34 grams of added sugar and 140 calories. Similarly, 20 ounces of Powerade Fruit Punch also contains 140 calories and 34 grams of added sugar. For those looking to hydrate while avoiding sodium, SmartWater provides calcium, magnesium and potassium with no sodium, no sugar, no calories and no artificial colors. Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Choose healthier carbohydrates
Whether you choose green, black, white, or oolong tea, avoid teas with added sugars. For a refreshing taste, you can make your own iced tea and add a few slices of lemon. Zero-calorie or low calorie drinks are typically your best bet when choosing something to quench your thirst.
Vodka soda
As you may well know, living with type 2 diabetes often means cutting out or cutting back on foods and beverages that can affect sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. One ounce of liquor, depending on the proof, has about the same amount of alcohol as 5 ounces of wine. While liquor is often carb-free, mixers like soda and juice can send blood sugar levels through the roof. To prevent a spike, mix your liquor with a calorie-free drink like water or seltzer. When you drink alcohol, the liver has a difficult time doing both of these jobs at the same time. It ends up breaking down alcohol instead of releasing glucose regularly.
No-Added Sugar Orange Juice
Water is always the best choice, but other good options include vegetable juices and homemade iced teas. Drinks to avoid include alcoholic beverages and soda (even artificially sweetened sodas). That may make it helpful when you’re hypoglycemic and your blood sugar is low, but fast-acting fruit juice isn’t helpful on a day-to-day basis. Dehydration is a common side effect for people living with diabetes. It’s related to your blood sugar levels and how hard your kidneys are working to manage fluids in the body as a result of higher blood glucose. Yes, you can usually drink beer safely if you have diabetes, but it’s not without risks.
- The association between sugar-sweetened soda consumption and developing diabetes is long established.
- So it’s essential to be mindful when consuming alcoholic beverages like beer when you have diabetes.
- While ideally alcohol would be avoided or enjoyed only occasionally, you may be able to drink regularly when you have diabetes as long as you do so in moderation.
- Much of the water content in produce is lost during cooking, but you may prevent the loss by choosing soups and stews.
- On average, 1 can has a whopping 40 grams of sugar and 150 calories, according to the ADA.
Sugary sodas are one of the highest sources of added sugars with little to no nutritional benefit. A can of soda can contain large amounts of sugar and calories, potentially leading to rapid increases in blood glucose levels. For those managing diabetes, it’s best to swap sodas for healthier drinks like water or unsweetened teas, as can you drink if you have diabetes research has shown that sugary beverages increase diabetes risk. This article presents information about fruit juices, diet soda, coffee, tea, and other beverages.
Instead, choose a light apple juice cocktail, and you’ll cut the carbs and calories in half. The typical coffeehouse version packs a whopping 33 grams of carbs. Steep one or two chai tea bags in a cup of unsweetened almond milk or soy milk, and spice it up with cinnamon and black pepper for an extra flavor kick. The same is true of cocktails made with regular soda or mixers, simple syrup, and other types of added sugar, or fruit juice.
White wine
- For example, a 5-oz (150-mL) serving of extra-dry champagne provides 1.8 to 2.5 g of sugar.
- Excessive or binge drinking is defined as having more than five alcoholic beverages in a two-hour time span for men, or four for women.
- Take a look at the numbers and you’ll find that only moderate drinkers have less cardiovascular disease.
- Aside from causing low blood sugar, drinking alcohol can also affect people with diabetes in several other ways.
- If you have a different type of diabetes, like gestational, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes or MODY, some of these tips are relevant to you.
You are probably better off, however, if you choose drinks that have fewer carbohydrates, such as light beers, dry wines, and seltzers. Avoid drinks that contain sweet mixers or juices, such as a margarita or tequila sunrise. Aside from causing low blood sugar, drinking alcohol can also affect people with diabetes in several other ways. A recent study (53) evaluated the acute effects of energy drinks on exercise performance in 19 professional female volleyball players. The players were recruited in a double blind, randomized, crossover study to determine grip strength, vertical jump and anaerobic power during three sessions. For each performance test, there was no significant change indicating that energy drink had no effect on improving physical performance.
Water
Unlike protein, fat, or carbohydrate, alcohol doesn’t require insulin to provide energy to the body. The exception is sweet dessert wines, which pack 14 grams of carb in a tiny three-and-a-half-ounce glass. If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may be safe for you if you choose the right types of drinks and consider their effects on your blood sugar levels. Managing diabetes effectively means carefully selecting foods and beverages that can stabilize blood sugar levels and contribute positively to overall health. This guide provides essential insights into the types of drinks that help balance blood sugar and those that could disrupt it, ensuring you make the best choices for managing diabetes. Because artificially sweetened drinks have zero carbohydrates and low calorie counts, the Mayo Clinic says they may be a good alternative to soda and juice sweetened with traditional sugar.