Your best bet is to stick with hard spirits like gin, vodka, whiskey and rum, but watch your mixer. Wine is a good option, but it's best to go for a red or a dry white. Beer might be good for low sugar, but it can be high in calories. So pick your tipple and enjoy it in moderation, of course.
Pure alcohol like rum, vodka, gin, tequila, and whiskey contains no carbs.
However, if you are going to drink, having red wine in moderation is a healthier choice than other alcoholic drinks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better heart and gut health.
"Clear liquors like vodka, tequila, and gin are lowest in sugar and calories and are easiest for our bodies to metabolize," Kober says.
Enter seltzer. "Adding seltzer to a cocktail is always a great choice since it provides zero calories and zero grams of sugar," Gans said. A gin and seltzer lets you get that same bubbly feel and gin taste without all the added calories.
The best types of alcohol for people with diabetes are those with a low sugar or carb content. That includes light beers, red and white wines, distilled spirits, and low carb cocktails, as long as you avoid sugary juices or syrups.
Sugar in Alcohol
Gin, rum, whiskey and vodka don't contain any added sugar. Beer doesn't have added sugar either. A 1.5-ounce shot of creme de menthe contains a whopping 21 grams of sugar. A 5-ounce glass of red or white wine contains about 1 gram of sugar, which comes from the grapes rather than from added sugar.
White wine is another low-calorie drink to sip on when you are on a weight loss plan. It is best to have dry white wines such as pinot blanc, chardonnay, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc as they contain less amount of calories.
Some sources claim that alcohol is converted into sugar by the liver. This is not true. Alcohol is converted to a number of intermediate substances (none of which is sugar), until it is eventually broken down to carbon dioxide and water.
This is most noticeable is in heavy drinkers, as over time drinking too much alcohol decreases the effectiveness of insulin, which leads to high blood sugar levels. Alcohol also affects blood sugar levels each time it's consumed, which means occasional drinkers can also be negatively impacted.
Vodka is a low-calorie liquor with no carbs, fat, or sugar, and no nutritional value for that matter. If you're on a diet or just want to drink without an overload of calories, vodka is a good choice.
However, the reality is that there is not a lot of sugar in alcohol, because the sugar has been fermented in the process when you make alcohol. A bottle of beer or a standard glass of wine might have anywhere between 3-6 grams of sugar, so between one or two teaspoons.
Xylitol. Commonly found in many fruits and vegetables, xylitol is a sugar alcohol compound that is similar in sweetness to sugar. Xylitol contains 40% fewer calories than sugar at 2.4 calories per gram, and has negligible effects on blood sugar and insulin, thanks to a lack of fructose.
Barley or jau water is high in insoluble fibre, which makes it good for diabetics. It is recommended for diabetics as it helps stabilise blood glucose levels. Make sure you drink unsweetened barley water to get effective results. The antioxidant properties of barley water also helps keep many diseases at bay.
Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best. Avoid sugar-sweetened options, as these can raise blood glucose, drive weight gain, and increase diabetes risk ( 22 , 23 ).
Absolut Vodka does not contain any added sugar.
The amount of sugar in a bottle of wine can vary from 4 grams to 220 grams per litre. The lowest sugar wine is red wine. Red wine has the least amount of sugar which is 0.9g per 175ml glass.
Gin and Tonic: 14.96 grams. There are 171 calories in one Gin and Tonic. The calorie breakdown is 1% fat, 99% carbs and 0% protein, with about 14.96 grams of sugar.
People with diabetes need to be extra careful with alcohol. Alcohol intake significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). If your diabetes is already well under control, a moderate amount of alcohol may be fine either before, during or soon after a meal.
If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar to either rise or fall. Plus, alcohol has a lot of calories. If you drink, do it occasionally and only when your diabetes and blood sugar level are well-controlled.