
eating plenty of lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey, and lentils.switching from eating three large meals a day to having more frequent, smaller meals.
eating a high-fiber diet that includes foods such as whole grain bread, vegetables, and fruits, which can help lower blood glucose.
eating plenty of low glycemic index foods, such as whole wheat pasta and bread, milk, yogurt, and apples. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following strategies: People with diabetes can reduce their risk of health complications by following a diabetes-friendly diet. For this reason, people at higher risk of heart disease, which includes those with diabetes, should take particular care to limit their alcohol intake. There is no proof that wine can directly protect the heart or offer any other health benefits. The American Heart Association (AHA) emphasize that all studies showing the potential health benefits of alcohol for heart health rely on correlations rather than causal relationships. A 2013 study on rats arrived at similar conclusions, suggesting that red wine may prevent certain types of nerve damage.Ī 2014 cohort study of French women found a reduced risk of developing diabetes among individuals with overweight who consumed red wine. This amount also contains about 11.7 g of sugar.Ī few studies suggest that red wine may offer some health benefits.Ī 2011 study on rats, for example, found that daily red wine consumption had antioxidant effects that could reduce the risk of some diabetes complications. A sweet dessert wine, for example, typically has nearly double the calories of red or white wine, at 240 calories per 5-oz serving. Other wines may have a higher sugar content and more calories. Sticking to relatively low calorie and low sugar red and white wines can help people minimize their sugar intake. However, they should take care to do this in conjunction with a healthful diet and only when their blood sugar is well-controlled. People with diabetes who want to drink wine can, therefore, do so in moderation. Most research shows that drinking a small amount of alcohol occasionally does not significantly affect blood glucose levels. It can also cause a buildup of harmful acids in the blood and dangerously low blood sugar. There is also evidence that long-term alcohol consumption, especially when excessive, correlates with a higher risk of diabetes complications, such as metabolism disturbances and eye damage.
Weight gain may increase the risk of certain diabetes complications. Drinking several glasses of wine each day can increase the number of calories a person consumes, potentially leading to weight gain. For example, a 5-oz serving of red wine contains about 128 calories. In almost all cases, though, the sugar content of wine is unlikely to affect a person’s daily sugar intake significantly.Īlcohol is a relatively high calorie drink, particularly considering that it has no nutritional value. Wine coolers (which contain juice) and other flavored wine drinks tend to be sweeter, and they often have a higher sugar and calorie content. Wine is a relatively low sugar drink, with both red and white wines containing less than 1.5 grams (g) of sugar per standard 5-ounce (oz) serving. Share on Pinterest Chad Springer/Getty Images