[Rainsunbow]

It always seems like we are being told to not drink because we are diabetic. The reason being, we might have hypo's and know. My doctor acctually told me that every once and awhile I could get drunk, my meds are not strong enough to cause a hypo, as long as I am eating all the carbs I am supose to (I realize this is different for insulin dep). I always wondered why, if we eat a big meal before drinking and monitor, what is the big deal? I do realize some people have no control when they are drunk, but I am not one of them. There was a post awhile back about this subject, I don't really remember what the consensus was, but I do remember someone asking: if alcohol reduces our b/s, why are we not encouraged to drink. I have always wondered the same thing. I finally found an article that addresses this. Basically it says that they can't encourage us because someone might become and alcoholic and then it would be our doctors fault. I don't know why this didn't dawn on me before, because it is obvious, but never the less I am going to put alcohol back in my life. I am not in danger of becoming an alcoholic, I have too much self control. From this article, it makes it sound like drinking everyday (in moderation of course) is better for you than not drinking at all, so I am going to encourage myself. I love light beer, so I'm poppin the top right now....cheeeeers=========heres to health!!

Leigh


http://www.mendosa.com/alcohol.htm

[Oradev]

Good post. I do like Red Wine. I might start drinking a glass a night like my Deigo Uncle.

[DeusXM]

Wow. I've never been told by my care team that I can't drink. Obviously I'm aware that alcohol can lower bg (although in my experience, quite the opposite happens).

The sad thing is that alcohol is only as dangerous as the person who drinks it.

I'm a T1, and a student, so usually at least 4 nights a week I'm a state of impressive intoxication, and I'm still here. And I don't even have to take any special measures, just eat when I get home, which, let's be honest, is what anyone else would do if they want to avoid a hangover.

Remember, you can do anything you like with diabetes - just think ahead first.

[Jenny]

I like a few drinks every now and then but it seems to make my hypos worse.

[pacon]

Actually alcohol was a part of diabetes treatment 60-70 years ago. Alcohol does not directly lower the BG. The cells in the body do not need insulin to consume the energy from alcohol, leaving the body with “unused” insulin. At the same time the liver has problem deliver glucose when the liver is under influence of alcohol. The liver always delivers glucose even when one doesn’t eat, but this is reduced and also the cause to why the BG drops. The drunker one gets, the harder it is for the body system to deliver glucose. Normally the liver has a glucose reserve to use if one gets a severe hypo, but if drunk enough, this backup system is offline. A hypo under influence of alcohol, especially if one also is asleep, can be very dangerous. I don’t know in the USA, but in Sweden there are a 2-3 diabetics every year that dies due to this.

If you drink moderately and eat, this is no problem. Besides, a lot of different alcohol drinks contains a lot of carbohydrates.

Take it easy.

[DeusXM]

True - alcopops are very high in sugar (comparable to regular soft drinks), and most regular beers also have carbs and sugar in them which will raise levels. Cider too has sugar in it, and obviously if you're drinking Coke or Red Bull as part of a mixer you're getting loads of sugar too.

[Lorna]

It is my experiece that it is a lot more dangerous to use diet mixers cos of the risk of going low. I normally drink stuff with a lot of sugar then eat before I go to bed. Main problems is you need to control your bg over night or else the hangovers hellish the next day!

[DeusXM]

True about the hangovers - usually I'll eat something like a kebab on the way home, do a blood test, and if it's a bit high (over 10), i'll jab a couple of units of novarapid.

That and a pint of water before bed usually do the trick!

Incidentally, insulin can be a great hangover cure - if you wake up with an absolute stormer of a headache, do a blood test, and if it's a bit high pop a couple of units in and go back to sleep for a bit. You'll be right as rain (although don't overdo it - you don't want a hypo).

[HeatherP]

I think that moderation in all things is a good rule to follow. I've never been told I couldn't drink. A little wine is not going to kill me, but I do need to watch my sugars closely the next morning however.

[Katjic]

I never really worry about it, If I feel like drinking – I just have a drink and test after…
Like Deus said, if your bg is high, just take some extra insulin, if it gets too low – eat some carbs.

[leigh4095]

it used to bother me but not anymore, i just drink when i want to, i go through stages of drinking every weekend but sometimes i dont fancy a drink for a month or so, thats my version of moderation and im sticking to it, i dont think drinking is so much of a big deal as long as we make sure that we watch what we are doing and take care,

[buzzborne]

Originally posted by leigh4095
i just drink when i want to, i go through stages of drinking every weekend but sometimes i dont fancy a drink for a month or so, thats my version of moderation and im sticking to it, i dont think drinking is so much of a big deal as long as we make sure that we watch what we are doing

I'm the same as you! Though I more often go for ages without drinking as I'm at school and they have strict rules... even if you are over the legal age!!:p

[IceMan]

My doc always told me to eat low fat/high carb...I'm gonna blame him for my diabetes......

[Rainsunbow]

Just like the article said, my b/s have been 15 points lower for the last three days. I bet it is because I have had 3 beers a day. I am going to try this articles theory for a month and drink everyday, and see if it really improves my b/s more than not drinking at all.

The point of this artlcle is, its saying drink, drink everyday, 2 or 3 for better b/s control. Its not just saying its not a big deal to drink in moderation, its saying do it, its good for us, its a good treatement. Its better for us than not drinking. It is saying that if doctors didn't fear that we would become alcoholics, they would encourage us to drink, but can't because of liability. We have kind of gotten off subject into if its ok to have a drink. Which is ok, I just wanted everyone to understand that, that is not what the article is saying.

Leigh

[Diabetic-Canada]

I have a question... as a diet controlled diabetic, I normally don't have to worry about lows, only highs. If I understand it right, then if I drink, then it would be possibly for me to get a low, but just the same as a normal, non-diabetic person, right?

Please correct me if I am wrong.