Best red wines for people with diabetes to drink, based on expert advice
When it comes to diabetes, there is some obvious tension between the condition and the consumption of alcohol. With careful regulation at the heart of diabetes management, the condition can sometimes seem exclusionary – but this needn’t be the case at all.
Indeed, technically speaking, no red wines are truly off-limits for those with diabetes. Provided the right approach to diet, and a moderate approach to wine consumption, there should be little worry in enjoying a good glass or two. That said, there are some key variables to keep in mind that make some reds more ideal than others.
What to look out for in a diabetes-friendly red
“It is the sugar that makes a difference,” says Claire Levy, of the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation.
Sugar is central to the fermentation process, being the key ingredient that yeast converts into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The sugar is, of course, provided by the grapes – and how much of it remains in the wine after fermentation depends on numerous variables, including: the efficiency of the yeast, the amount of yeast added to the batch, and how long the fermentation process is allowed to continue. The amount of sugar left in the wine is its residual sugar content, and is often measured in grams per litre.
The longer a wine ferments, the more sugar is converted by the yeast. This makes for a less sugar-rich and hence drier-tasting wine, often with a higher abv.
