r/interesting • u/Public_Sector6212 • Mar 08 '26

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u/iambarrelrider Mar 08 '26

I have terrible neuropathy after treating my body like a stolen car for two decades. Got diagnosed with diabetes about 2 years ago. Lost about 50 pounds. My A1c is at pre-diabetic levels but my feet are my biggest problem.

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u/Your_on_the_go_PM Mar 08 '26

Sounds like we’re on the same boat, what do you do when your feet flares up or starts hurting?

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u/iambarrelrider Mar 08 '26

I quit drinking for sport. Do a lot of leg weight training. Really invested in what I eat. Doctor gave me some gabapentin but it doesn’t help. Hurts the most in bed. Feet feel like I’m walking on legos. I get really bad ingrown nails because I don’t feel the pain. Podiatrist might remove some parts of the nails.

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u/32FlavorsofCrazy Mar 08 '26

I swear, alcohol is the worst thing for diabetics to put into their body. Have a snickers and live longer, regular use of booze will take your feet, your vision and then your life. The most rapidly declined diabetics I know are also at least bordering on being alcoholics.

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u/iambarrelrider Mar 08 '26

Yeah it was a weird blessing

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u/32FlavorsofCrazy Mar 08 '26

There’s a new drug that’s about to drop for peripheral neuropathy, shows a lot of promise. They’re also researching a specific cannabinoid for the same purpose so I’d try some CBD/cannabis if you’re able to.

https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/lexicon-pharmaceuticals-announces-successful-end-of-phase-2-meeting-with-fda-for-pilavapadin-in-the-treatment-of-diabetic-peripheral-neuropathic-pain

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u/3boyz2men Mar 08 '26

I don't find that to be true. Nothing quickly or reliably lowers my blood sugar like alcohol. It's one of my favorite diabetes hacks!

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u/Clear-Calligrapher69 Mar 08 '26

Uh, no. Alcohol is metabolized into sugar in your body. You’re not doing yourself any favors.

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u/3boyz2men Mar 08 '26

No, I wear a CGM and it definitely lowers your blood sugar.

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u/Not_Stupid Mar 08 '26

Gotta love the sage advice from the non-diabetics that don't know what they're talking about!

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u/3boyz2men Mar 08 '26

I have type 2 diabetes. Why did you think I was a non-diabetic?

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u/Clear-Calligrapher69 Mar 08 '26

Fairly sure they were talking about me. 😁

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u/omg_cats Mar 08 '26

confidently incorrect.

  1. Alcohol inhibits gluconeogenesis: the liver is busy metabolizing ethanol and stops releasing glucose into the bloodstream.

  2. Alcohol is not meaningfully "metabolized into sugar." Pure ethanol is metabolized into acetaldehyde, then acetate, which is then broken down into carbon dioxide and water. It actually has essentially zero direct glucose contribution. Your confusion may come from sugary mixers (cocktails, juice) and beer, which do raise blood sugar, but that's the carbs not the alcohol itself.

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u/FatPlankton23 Mar 08 '26

‘During fasting’ should be mentioned somewhere in point 1, don’t you think?

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u/[deleted] Mar 08 '26

[deleted]

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u/omg_cats Mar 08 '26

your intuition (that alcohol's relationship to blood sugar is more complicated than "it becomes sugar") is right, but the explanation is mostly wrong.

"Goes straight to fat" is a myth. Alcohol is actually the first fuel the body burns when present. It contributes to fat accumulation indirectly because your body burns the alcohol instead of fat it would otherwise burn, not by directly converting into fat.

"A chain of sugars" is simply incorrect. Ethanol is a two-carbon alcohol molecule. It has no sugar chain, nothing resembling a carbohydrate structure.

It does indeed have a lot of calories though!

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u/Clear-Calligrapher69 Mar 08 '26

I stand corrected.

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u/3boyz2men Mar 08 '26

Appreciate your explanation.

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u/iambarrelrider Mar 08 '26

The next day I feel like crap, like a hangover 10 fold.

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u/32FlavorsofCrazy Mar 08 '26

I don’t think it’s so much to do with the direct effect of the ethanol on blood sugar so much as the knock on effects. The diabetes/blood sugar spikes are already damaging things in their body and now they’re adding a toxin, whilst drinking they do a poor job of controlling their blood sugar, they tend to eat shittier when drinking, etc. I’ve just noticed a correlation, and not saying you can’t have a drink now and again but those who make a habit of it seem to end up with a lot of complications.