Final answer:
Alcoholic abuse can lead to hypoglycemia due to limited glucose production in the liver caused by changes in hepatic metabolism. Gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of new glucose molecules, is primarily responsible for this process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alcoholic abuse can lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, due to limited glucose production in the liver. This is caused by changes in hepatic metabolism, specifically in the process of gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is the synthesis of new glucose molecules from pyruvate, lactate, glycerol, or certain amino acids, primarily alanine or glutamine, and occurs primarily in the liver during periods of low glucose.