If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may be safe for you if you choose the right types of drinks and consider their effects on your blood sugar levels. Read on for 10 types of alcohol that are low in carbs.
The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for AmericansTrusted Source define moderate alcohol intake as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.
Here’s what one standard drink looks like:
- 12 fluid oz (fl oz), which equals 360 milliliters (mL) of regular beer (5% alcohol)
- 5 fl oz (150 mL) of wine (12% alcohol)
- 1.5 fl oz (45 mL) of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol)
Certain diabetes medications, such as sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones, can increase your risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Excessive consumption of alcohol further affects that risk.
If you’re taking medication, talk with your doctor about whether and how you can safely drink alcohol.
1–4. Beer
Generally speaking, low carb beersTrusted Source have fewer calories and carbs than regular beersTrusted Source. Here are some of the most popular low carb beer options.
1. Miller Lite
Miller Lite is an American-style light lager made with barley malt and corn syrup, among other ingredients.
However, it contains only 3.2 grams (g) of carbohydrates in a standard 12-oz (360-mL) can or bottle, compared with 12 g for the same serving in regular Miller beers.
2. Coors Light
Like Miller Lite, Coors Light is an American-style light lager. It provides 5 g of carbs per 12-oz (360-mL) bottle.
In contrast, standard options, such as Coors Banquet, provide almost 12 g of carbs per bottle.
3. Bud Light
Bud Light is another low carb beer that provides fewer than 5 gTrusted Source of carbs per serving.
With 4.6 g of carbs per 12-oz (360-mL) serving, it provides roughly 50% fewer carbs than a regular Budweiser, which contains 10.6 gTrusted Source for the same serving size.
4. Busch
Busch beers are good alternatives for people with diabetes due to the low carb content of most of the brand’s products — including their beers that are not branded as low carb.
For instance, a 12-oz (360-mL) serving of regular Busch contains just 7 g of carbs, while the same serving sizes of Busch Ice and Busch Light provide 4.2 and 3.2 g, respectively.
5–6. Wine
Here are two types of wine with low carb counts.
5. Red wine
A 2023 review of studies indicates that red wine can provide health benefits for people with diabetes, such as decreased oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease risk.
ResearchTrusted Source also indicates that flavonoids, which are found in red wine, can reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes-related complication that damages blood vessels in the eyes.
Plus, it provides only 3.8 gTrusted Source of carbs in a standard 5-oz (150-mL) serving.
6. White wine
The carb content in white wines is comparable to red wines.
For instance, a standard 5-oz (150-mL) glass of white wine provides 3.8 gTrusted Source of carbs.
Among white wines, some styles of champagne may be a good choice. Dry and Brut varieties are low in sugar.
For example, a 5-oz (150-mL) serving of extra-dry champagne provides 1.8 to 2.5 g of sugar. Brut champagne in the same serving size offer fewer than 1.8 g of sugar.
7. Distilled spirits
Distilled spirits or hard liquors contain few to no carbs. Here are some possible distilled spirit options.
7. Gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey
These liquors contain 0 g of carbsTrusted Source per 1.5-oz (45-mL) serving.
However, the carb content of your drink may vary depending on what you mix the liquor with.
Try to avoid mixing liquor with sugary juices or sugar-containing soda. If you do drink these with alcohol, your blood sugar may spike and then dip to dangerously low levels.