Are Sports Drinks Safe for Diabetics?

Q: I am working outside this week as a volunteer for a sports event. The temperature is about 110 degrees. We are constantly given sports drinks to replenish our electrolytes. As a diabetic, is it safe for me to drink these?

— Nancy

A: While it is important to prevent dehydration and replace electrolytes that you might lose through excessive sweating, you must also consider the amount of carbohydrates and calories that you are consuming throughout the day. Below is information on some common sports drinks. You can see the difference in the amount of carbohydrates and calories.

Gatorade: 50 calories, 14 carbohydrates (grams)
Mountain Dew Sport: 95 calories, 24 carbohydrates (grams)
All Sport: 70 calories, 19 carbohydrates (grams)
Rehydrate: 40 calories, 10 carbohydrates (grams)
Performance: 100 calories, 25 carbohydrates (grams)

So for example, if you consume four 8-oz bottles of Gatorade, you have taken in 200 calories and 56 grams of carbohydrates — and those values double if you are drinking 16-oz bottles. The calories and carbohydrates can add up quickly, causing high sugar levels.

The best practice is to look at each brand’s calorie and carbohydrate counts and the number of drinks that you are consuming a day to determine if it is within your daily caloric and carbohydrate requirements. It's also a good idea to supplement sports beverages with plain water.