Alcohol intake and type 2 diabetes
Alcohol inhibits glucose production in the liver and increases the risk of hypoglycaemia. Patients with type 2 diabetes who are using insulin and/or a sulfonylurea are at increased risk of hypoglycaemia; see Alcohol-associated hypoglycaemia for information about alcohol intake.
Patients with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin should limit their alcohol intake to two standard drinks per day (one standard drink is 10 g of ethanol) with regular alcohol-free days encouraged, consistent with national guidelines for the general population1.