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Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. It belongs to a class of drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors, which help your kidneys remove excess glucose through your urine.

Although Jardiance is generally well tolerated, there are serious safety considerations. SGLT2 inhibitors, including Jardiance, have been linked to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition where the body produces too many ketones. Factors such as insulin dose reduction, reduced calorie intake, surgery, pancreatitis, and drinking too much alcohol may predispose patients to ketoacidosis.

Since both Jardiance and alcohol affect blood sugar levels and fluid balance, what really happens when you combine them, and how can you reduce your risk if you choose to drink?

Key Takeaways

  • Alcohol can lower blood sugar by blocking the liver’s glucose production.
  • Mixing Jardiance with alcohol increases risks like dehydration, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and ketoacidosis, especially for those with kidney or liver issues.
  • Moderate drinking guidelines recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. Always eat carbohydrates when you drink and stay hydrated.
  • Some people should avoid alcohol completely, including those with poorly controlled diabetes, high triglycerides, pancreatitis, neuropathy, kidney or liver disease, or those who binge drink.
  • There are ways to save on Jardiance. If you have a prescription, you can get Jardiance for as little as $139 per month, and an additional 10% discount may be available.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Jardiance?

You may drink in moderation as long as your blood sugar is well managed and you stay cautious. Health organizations define moderate drinking as one drink per day for women and up to two per day for men, where a drink equals 5 oz of wine, 12 oz of beer, or 1½ oz of 80-proof spirits.

But there’s no universal rule for drinking safely. What works for someone else might not work for you. Talk to your doctor about your drinking habits and get clear, personalized guidance on what’s safe in your case.

How alcohol affects blood sugar and diabetes

Alcohol is processed primarily by the liver. Normally, the liver releases stored glucose into the bloodstream between meals or overnight to prevent hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

When alcohol is present, the liver prioritises breaking down alcohol and slows the release of glucose. As a result, blood sugar can drop, especially if you drink on an empty stomach or after vigorous exercise. Hypoglycemia can occur for up to 12 hours after drinking, so blood sugar should be checked before bedtime.

Potential risks of mixing Jardiance with alcohol

Two men having an alocholic beverage at a bar

Before you drink, it’s important to understand how this combination may affect your blood sugar, hydration, and overall safety.

1. Overlapping effects

There is no known direct pharmacological interaction between Jardiance and alcohol. However, alcohol can increase the risk of low blood sugar. When evaluating whether to drink, it’s important to recognise that Jardiance’s actions and alcohol’s effects overlap in ways that can magnify side effects.

2. Dehydration and low blood pressure

Jardiance causes osmotic diuresis, meaning you excrete more water and sodium. Clinical trials show that some patients report decreased blood pressure, dehydration, orthostatic hypotension, and dizziness. The medication guide also warns that Jardiance can cause intravascular volume depletion, which is when you don’t have enough fluid circulating inside your blood vessels.

At the same time, alcohol is also a diuretic. It suppresses antidiuretic hormone and leads to increased urination.

Combining the two may increase fluid loss, contributing to low blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension, and fainting. Because dehydration is a risk factor for acute kidney injury, patients with impaired renal function or the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

3. Hypoglycemia

Although Jardiance alone has a low risk of causing hypoglycemia, the risk rises when it’s combined with insulin or insulin secretagogues. Alcohol blocks the liver’s ability to release glucose, so adding alcohol to these medications can cause blood sugar to plummet.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as dizziness, confusion or drowsiness, can also be mistaken for drunkenness. Since Jardiance flushes out glucose through urine, people may not recognise that their blood sugar is falling until they feel unwell.

4. Ketoacidosis

Jardiance has been associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, sometimes without extremely high blood glucose. The medication guide lists “drinking too much alcohol” among factors that may predispose patients to ketoacidosis.

Alcohol, especially excessive consumption or binge drinking, stimulates ketone production and can trigger or worsen ketoacidosis.

Guidelines for safe alcohol consumption with Jardiance

Drinking alcohol while taking Jardiance isn’t always off-limits, but it does require caution.

Talk with your healthcare provider

Before drinking, ask yourself the same questions the ADA suggests:

    • Is my diabetes in good control?
    • Does my health care team agree that I can have alcohol?
    • Do I know how alcohol can affect me?

Discuss your drinking habits with your clinician so they can advise on whether alcohol is safe given your blood sugar, kidney function, medications and overall health.

Follow moderation limits

Stick to the guideline of one standard drink per day for women and two for men. Remember that moderate drinking means small portions:

    • 12 oz of beer
    • 5 oz of wine
    • 1½ oz of 80-proof spirits

Choose smarter drinks. Light beer and dry wine usually contain less alcohol and fewer calories, which makes them better options if you decide to drink. If you prefer cocktails, mix spirits with diet soda, sparkling water, or plain seltzer instead of sugary mixers.

Skip high-sugar drinks such as sweet wines, piña coladas, wine coolers, and other syrupy cocktails. These can spike your blood sugar quickly and add unnecessary calories.

If you track calories, count alcohol carefully. A drink can replace a serving of fat in your daily plan, but never use alcohol as a substitute for a meal.

Be open with your doctor about how often you drink. Share this information during checkups and before starting any new medication. Let them know if your drinking habits change so they can adjust your care safely.

Never drink on an empty stomach or after exercise

Eating a meal or snack containing carbohydrates before and during drinking helps the liver maintain blood glucose. The ADA warns that drinking without eating, especially after exercise, increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

Choose whole foods that digest slowly, such as whole-grain crackers with cheese or peanut butter, to provide a steady source of glucose while your liver is busy metabolising alcohol.

Hydrate and monitor blood sugar

Because Jardiance and alcohol both promote fluid loss, drink plenty of water between alcoholic beverages. Check your blood sugar before bedtime and during the night if you’ve consumed alcohol.

Experts recommend aiming for a bedtime glucose of 100-140 mg/dL and eating a snack if it’s lower. Carry a source of fast-acting glucose in case of hypoglycemia.

Know when to avoid alcohol

Some people should avoid alcohol while taking Jardiance altogether.

Be extra careful with alcohol if you have certain diabetes-related conditions. Drinking can make these problems worse:

    • Diabetic neuropathy – Alcohol can worsen burning, tingling, or numbness in your hands and feet.
    • Diabetic retinopathy – It may aggravate existing eye damage.
    • Uncontrolled high blood pressure – Alcohol can raise blood pressure further.
    • High triglycerides – Drinking may increase them even more.
    • Kidney disease – Alcohol can add strain to already damaged kidneys.

Alcohol also increases your risk of high blood pressure. Since high blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease and stroke, this combination can be dangerous. Drinking can even interfere with blood pressure medications, making your numbers harder to control.

Be especially cautious if you take certain older diabetes medications, such as chlorpropamide. Combining these drugs with alcohol can cause flushing of the face, neck, or arms. You might also feel:

    • lightheaded
    • off balance
    • nauseated or sick to your stomach

If you notice these symptoms, stop drinking right away. Talk to your doctor before having alcohol again. If symptoms feel severe or life-threatening, seek medical care immediately.

If your symptoms are mild and your doctor says it is safe, you may be able to drink occasionally. Just monitor your blood sugar closely and stay alert to how your body responds.

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Alternatives to alcohol and healthier drink choices

If you prefer to avoid alcohol or need to cut back, there are many satisfying options. Water and sparkling water keep you hydrated and do not affect blood sugar. Herbal teas, infused water, and unsweetened iced tea provide flavour without carbohydrates.

For a festive feel, try a mocktail made with club soda, fresh herbs, citrus, and a low-calorie sweetener. The ADA suggests choosing drinks like cucumber-basil mocktails as an alternative to alcoholic beverages.

Here’s how to make it (about 5 servings):

Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
    • 1/3 cup fresh basil
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • 1 liter club soda
    • 1 tsp Splenda® Stevia Liquid Sweetener (optional for a touch of sweetness)

Directions

    1. Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse for 3-5 minutes.
    2. Strain the mixture into a pitcher. Discard the solids.
    3. Serve over ice.
    4. Garnish with a basil leaf or a cucumber slice.

If you decide to drink alcohol occasionally, opt for light beer or dry wine, which contain less sugar and fewer calories. Avoid sweet wines, sugary cocktails, and creamy drinks like piña coladas, which can lead to blood sugar spikes.

Bottom line

Enjoying a drink isn’t entirely off-limits for everyone taking Jardiance, but it requires careful planning. Jardiance works by helping your kidneys flush glucose and water, so it already increases urination and can lower blood pressure. Alcohol intensifies these effects and interferes with your liver’s ability to maintain stable blood sugar.

Although moderate drinking may be safe for some people with well-controlled diabetes, combining heavy drinking with Jardiance can lead to dehydration, hypoglycemia, or even diabetic ketoacidosis.

Always discuss alcohol use with your healthcare provider, follow moderation guidelines, never drink on an empty stomach, and monitor your blood sugar closely. If you have existing complications or risk factors, it is safest to skip alcohol altogether and choose healthier beverages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

There is no direct chemical interaction, but both influence blood sugar and hydration. Jardiance increases urination and can cause dehydration. Alcohol is also a diuretic and lowers blood sugar by blocking the liver’s glucose release. Together, they can increase the risk of dehydration, low blood pressure, and hypoglycemia.

Yes. Drinking often or in large amounts may increase side effects of Jardiance, such as dehydration and low blood pressure. Excess alcohol also raises the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. It is advisable to limit or avoid alcohol while taking the medication.

Drinking alcohol while on Jardiance can cause your blood pressure to drop, make you urinate more, and increase the risk of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation with food and monitor your blood sugar closely.

Avoid dehydration, fasting, and high alcohol intake because they increase the risk of ketoacidosis. Be careful with other drugs that lower blood sugar and discuss them with your doctor.

Timing doesn’t eliminate the risks because Jardiance remains active throughout the day. There is no “safe window” for drinking. The same precautions apply regardless of when you take the drug. Just limit consumption, eat food, and monitor your blood sugar.

Alcohol can cause blood sugar to fall too low by blocking the liver’s glucose release, and can increase blood pressure and triglycerides. The ADA notes that symptoms of hypoglycemia may mimic intoxication. People with diabetes should drink sparingly and always with food.

Stopping alcohol may improve blood pressure and triglyceride levels, and it eliminates alcohol-induced hypoglycemia, but it doesn’t cure diabetes. Blood sugar control depends on diet, exercise, medications, and overall health. Consult your healthcare provider for a comprehensive plan.

Moderate consumption is generally defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. However, even these amounts may be unsafe for some individuals. Discuss limits with your healthcare provider.

Sugary mixed drinks, sweet wines, and high-calorie creamy cocktails should be avoided. Johns Hopkins advises avoiding sweet wines and mixed drinks that are high in sugar, such as piña coladas or wine coolers. These drinks can cause rapid blood sugar spikes and add unnecessary calories.

Light beer and dry wines are better options because they contain less sugar and fewer calories. Spirits mixed with sugar-free mixers can also be reasonable in moderation. The healthiest choice may be avoiding alcohol altogether, especially if you have diabetes complications.

Distilled spirits (vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey) have virtually no carbohydrates or sugar. Dry wines also contain very little residual sugar. Avoid liqueurs and sweet wines. Always account for mixers, as regular sodas and juices add sugars.

Most guidelines recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. People with diabetes should aim for even lower amounts and only drink with food.

Sources

Alcohol and Diabetes | ADA. (n.d.). https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/alcohol-and-diabetes

Mixing Alcohol with Your Diabetes. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/general-internal-medicine/documents/faculty-resource/mixing-alcohol-with-your-diabetes.pdf