Traditionally, I'm not a heavy drinker, but on occasion, I'd enjoy a night out. How is alcohol best managed? I'm talking about low carb beer or shots. What can I expect? What should I look out for? My diabetes educator recommends no more than a couple drinks. Sorry but I have some livin left to do, can I do better than this!?
Diabetes and Drinking
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Joined
·
1,891 Posts
Best managed by not consuming it lol
Joined
·
5,399 Posts
Alcohol can make you go low, if you're not careful. Many mixes, on the other hand, can spike you.
A glass (or maybe two small glasses) of red wine is the safest bet. With cheese to prevent a low.
Don't know if you're on insulin. I am, and my idea of a good beer is more like dark liquid bread (Guiiiinnnesssss ...ahem...). I find I need to bolus for that (rare) bit of the good stuff.
As a rule, I don't go stronger than a bit of brandy. But I'd make sure I ate something with, say, a scotch-and-soda (pre-diabetic favorite). And I'd make one drink last a loooooonnnnng time.
A glass (or maybe two small glasses) of red wine is the safest bet. With cheese to prevent a low.
Don't know if you're on insulin. I am, and my idea of a good beer is more like dark liquid bread (Guiiiinnnesssss ...ahem...). I find I need to bolus for that (rare) bit of the good stuff.
As a rule, I don't go stronger than a bit of brandy. But I'd make sure I ate something with, say, a scotch-and-soda (pre-diabetic favorite). And I'd make one drink last a loooooonnnnng time.
I've found that too much alcohol, even low-carb (liquor with water or club soda), can give me very high FBG readings the next day. I'm talking a whole evening's worth of drinks, though, not just 2 or 3.
I'm pre-D, and moderate carb, so I seldom see numbers above 140, and my fastings are usually in the one-teens. The highest numbers I've ever seen on my meter have been two "mornings after" pretty bad alcohol binges, where I had a 198 one morning and a 203 the other.
For me, those are terrible, scary numbers. Now I try to limit my drinking to just a couple in a night. I don't have lows or spikes if I keep it moderate.
Joined
·
5,399 Posts
I haven't had that problem, but then I don't have any more than 1 or 2 drinks in any 24-hour period. (Maybe too much alcohol results in a low, which leads to a liver dump and subsequent spike?)
Like all else diabetes (or human, I guess), everyone's affected differently. But I've gotta say, I don't know of any diabetic who can get away with binge drinking, or even the heavier sort of social drinking.
Well, I have one or two glasses of white wine (allergic to many of the red wines) and have never noticed a problem with that. It does tend to lower my BG some times, but I overcome that with fat like I will tonight with my rib eye steak and butter on the green veges.
I am the type of person who cant remember last time I was drunk, but I love to have one glass of redwine sometimes, and also; I hate to get the cold or the flue and if I get it, I like to have one good cocnac or whiskey before I go to bed.
I was told that alcohol will make the liver work to get rid of it, and the liver will not dump glucoses in the blood when it is occupied with getting rid of the alcohol. The liver can actually work with the alcohol 24 hours after we stop drinking.
This lead to we can get hypo, and when we are hypo, it looks like we have got to much to drink, and nobody think about we maybe are sick / low in BG.
I learned:
-as an diabetic: never drink if you dont have someone you trust and who know you are diabetic with you
-Use a pin or something that show you are diabetic and what medication you use, in a place easy seen.
-Here in Norway the police says it is really a good idea to put a note with healt issues together with the coins, since the police always count your coins if they pick you up thinking you are too drunk, The note will make them call a doctor to check BG and how you are.
I was told that alcohol will make the liver work to get rid of it, and the liver will not dump glucoses in the blood when it is occupied with getting rid of the alcohol. The liver can actually work with the alcohol 24 hours after we stop drinking.
This lead to we can get hypo, and when we are hypo, it looks like we have got to much to drink, and nobody think about we maybe are sick / low in BG.
I learned:
-as an diabetic: never drink if you dont have someone you trust and who know you are diabetic with you
-Use a pin or something that show you are diabetic and what medication you use, in a place easy seen.
-Here in Norway the police says it is really a good idea to put a note with healt issues together with the coins, since the police always count your coins if they pick you up thinking you are too drunk, The note will make them call a doctor to check BG and how you are.
Joined
·
370 Posts
I have been a heavy drinker off and on my whole life. It must be the Irish gene in me. 
Currently I am in the "on" phase of my life and drink the equivalent of 12 ounces of 80 proof bourbon a night. I have not noticed any effects whatsoever.
Since stating on Lantus; 26 units at bedtime, my blood tests have been good. When they spike, it is generally been after I do something stupid during the day (like the basket of Halloween candy I ate.)
YMMV obviously.
On the other hand, I think that if one can fore go alcohol, they are better off in the long run.
Currently I am in the "on" phase of my life and drink the equivalent of 12 ounces of 80 proof bourbon a night. I have not noticed any effects whatsoever. Since stating on Lantus; 26 units at bedtime, my blood tests have been good. When they spike, it is generally been after I do something stupid during the day (like the basket of Halloween candy I ate.)
YMMV obviously.
On the other hand, I think that if one can fore go alcohol, they are better off in the long run.
To paraphrase an old saying: 'I don't have a drinking problem. I get drunk, I go hypo, I pass out while driving, no problem!'.
Alcohol impairs judgement and can lead to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia further impairs judgement when you need it most.
This is a dangerous combination. When it goes bad one can be completely unaware until long after someone else has cleaned up the aftermath.
A college buddy of mine with T1 thought it was funny to drink to excess. He couldn't understand why we kept calling paramedics when he became unresponsive, unable to speak, and we were concerned he was slipping into diabetic coma day after day. Nowadays, if the police happen upon you, unresponsive and even unconscious diabetics are often tasered for good measure.
If you really have a lot of living left to do keep the alcohol consumption moderate to significantly increase your odds of doing so.
Alcohol impairs judgement and can lead to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia further impairs judgement when you need it most.
This is a dangerous combination. When it goes bad one can be completely unaware until long after someone else has cleaned up the aftermath.
A college buddy of mine with T1 thought it was funny to drink to excess. He couldn't understand why we kept calling paramedics when he became unresponsive, unable to speak, and we were concerned he was slipping into diabetic coma day after day. Nowadays, if the police happen upon you, unresponsive and even unconscious diabetics are often tasered for good measure.
If you really have a lot of living left to do keep the alcohol consumption moderate to significantly increase your odds of doing so.
Joined
·
261 Posts
That's where I am. It makes me feel so crappy that I don't even bother anymore. It does that to me as soon as it hits my system.
Joined
·
716 Posts
I stopped drinking years ago. Some days I miss but most I don't. I still on special occasion have some red wine.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!