[This content is a story-based medical science article, please read it rationally, and do not sit down]
Liu Dahai, a 50-year-old middle-aged entrepreneur, stood at the door of the endocrinology clinic with confusion written on his face. He clutched a lab sheet in his hand and frowned. Just last night, he had a little drink with a few old friends. This morning, my blood sugar was even lower than usual! This puzzled him.
"Mr. Liu, please come in." A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
Liu Dahai walked into the consultation room and saw a middle-aged female doctor wearing glasses smiling at him. "I'm Dr. Zhang, please be seated."
After Liu Dahai sat down, he couldn't wait to ask, "Doctor Zhang, I have a question for you." I'm a diabetic and I've been managing it well. But I drank some wine last night and tested my blood sugar this morning, and it was lower than usual! What's going on? Can alcohol cure diabetes? "
After hearing this, Dr. Zhang smiled slightly: "Mr. Liu, you have a very good question. Indeed, many people with diabetes have had similar experiences. But it's not that simple. "
Liu Dahai became interested: "Oh? Can you explain it to me? "
Dr. Zhang nodded and began to speak.
It turns out that the effect of alcohol on blood sugar is a complex process. Alcohol may indeed cause a drop in blood sugar in the short term. This is because alcohol inhibits glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver, which reduces the release of glucose into the bloodstream. Alcohol may also increase insulin sensitivity and promote glucose absorption by cells.
"So my low blood sugar in the morning is normal?" Liu Dahai asked.
Dr. Zhang shook his head: "This is just a superficial phenomenon. Alcohol is far more harmful to people with diabetes than you might think. "
Dr. Zhang then explained in detail the five major dangers of alcohol for diabetics.
The first hazard is an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Although blood sugar may drop in the short term, this drop is uncontrollable. Alcohol can interfere with the normal function of the liver, cause hypoglycemic symptoms to last longer, and may even trigger a severe hypoglycemic reaction.
Liu Dahai couldn't help but gasp when he heard this: "I always thought that low blood sugar was just about eating some sugar, but I didn't expect it to be so dangerous." "
Doctor Zhang nodded: "That's right, hypoglycemia can lead to coma or even death if it is not handled properly. Hypoglycemia, in particular, occurs during sleep, which is more dangerous. "
The second hazard is increased fluctuations in blood sugar. Alcohol interferes with the body's normal regulation of blood sugar, causing blood sugar to fluctuate and become difficult to control. Long-term blood sugar instability increases the risk of diabetes complications.
Liu Dahai thought thoughtfully: "No wonder I sometimes feel that my blood sugar is particularly unstable, it turns out that drinking alcohol is also a reason." "
The third hazard is to increase the burden on the pancreas. Alcohol stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin, which can lead to islet cell failure in the long run, accelerating the progression of diabetes.
"It's like whipping a tired horse." Dr. Zhang used a figurative analogy.
The fourth hazard is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Alcohol raises blood pressure and increases blood triglyceride levels, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes already have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and the effects of alcohol add insult to injury.
Liu Dahai's face turned a little pale when he heard this: "My father died of a heart attack, and I have always been worried about my heart health. "
Dr. Zhang comforted: "It's good to know the danger, and it's still too late to change." "
The last hazard is interference with the action of the drug. Many diabetes medications interact with alcohol to affect their effectiveness and may even cause serious side effects.
"For example, metformin, if taken with alcohol, may increase the risk of lactic acidosis." Dr Teo added.
After listening to Dr. Zhang's explanation, Liu Dahai fell into deep thought. He thought back to the days when he was staggered, and he couldn't help but feel a little afraid.
"Dr. Zhang, I understand. It seems that I will really have to quit drinking in the future. Liu Dahai made up his mind and said.
Dr. Zhang smiled with relief: "It's good that you can have this understanding. But don't be too nervous. It's okay to have a drink on a special occasion once in a while, but it's important to be measured and monitor your blood sugar at all times. "
Liu Dahai nodded: "Then what should I do?" "
Dr. Zhang offers a few suggestions:
If you must drink alcohol, try to choose a low-proof alcohol, such as beer or red wine.
Be sure to eat something when you drink alcohol, especially foods rich in carbohydrates, to prevent hypoglycemia.
Drink plenty of water after drinking to help your body metabolize alcohol.
Check your blood sugar before going to bed, and if it's low, take some carbohydrates.
Tell a family member or friend that you have diabetes and let them know about the symptoms of low blood sugar and what to do.
Liu Dahai carefully noted down these suggestions. As he walked out of the office, he felt like he had a better understanding of diabetes.
This experience made Liu Dahai realize that managing diabetes is far more complicated than he imagined. The effect of alcohol on blood sugar is like a double-edged sword, which may seem beneficial on the surface, but it is actually dangerous.
The relationship between diabetics and alcohol reflects to some extent the relationship between modern people and health. Too often, we are fooled by appearances and ignore the potential harms. Just like Liu Dahai only saw the superficial phenomenon of alcohol lowering blood sugar at the beginning, he didn't realize the various risks hidden behind it.
Do we often make such mistakes in our lives? Ignoring long-term health effects for the sake of immediate convenience or pleasure. Perhaps we should manage our lives in the same way we manage diabetes – with a meticulous plan for the future.
For diabetics, every drink is a bargain with their health. Behind the short-term pleasure can be a long-term health concern. This makes us wonder if we often neglect long-term happiness for the sake of short-term happiness in our lives.
The wine table culture is deeply ingrained in our society, and it is undoubtedly a huge challenge for people with diabetes. Finding a balance between social needs and health management is a test of the wisdom of every diabetic patient. Perhaps we need to revisit our drinking culture to make way for health.
It also reminds us that the management of chronic diseases should not be superficial. Just as alcohol lowers blood sugar doesn't mean it's good for diabetes, we need a holistic, long-term perspective when managing our health.
For the majority of diabetic patients, understanding these harms of alcohol is not only to avoid drinking, but also to better manage their health. Only by knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent can one not be defeated. Only by fully understanding the characteristics of the disease and the various influencing factors can we achieve self-management with ease.
Finally, we need to remember that health management is a marathon, not a sprint. Just like Liu Dahai, we may encounter all kinds of confusion and challenges along the way. But as long as we maintain an attitude of learning and humbly listen to professional advice, we will definitely be able to embark on a healthy path of our own.
Whether it is a diabetic or a healthy person, we should cherish our body and treat every factor that may affect our health with a scientific attitude. After all, health is our most valuable asset and deserves our care.
Let's work together to create a healthier and better future. Not only for ourselves, but also for the sake of our loved ones. Because you are healthy, you can better protect the people around you and create more good memories.
[This content is a story-based medical and health science article, and any name, place name, or event that appears in the article except for the health science content is artistic processing, and it is not intended to offend or belittle any individual, group or organization. If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】