Consumption of alcohol can lower blood glucose level. Between 4 and 5 a.m., Dr. Juliano reports, the drinker went into an insulin reaction. Normally, he would have awakened, but the alcohol had dulled his senses. It was a very near thing. Alcohol can affect perception.
Consumption of alcohol interferes with the liver's release of glycogen.
This can mean an ambulance ride. Alcohol's effect on blood sugars is complex and unpredictable. As Dr. Juliano reports, this can lead to real problems. In some individuals the sulfonylureas react with the alcohol, producing a brightly flushed complexion. People consume alcoholic beverages for many different reasons, and those reasons usually determine their drinking patterns.