affects blood alcohol?

DaveC426913 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:22 AM

I was talking with a Type I friend last night. She told me that, if my blood sugars are high (say, from eating too much Christmas goodies), this could cause me to blow higher than normal on a breathalyzer.

True?

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:46 AM

That is not true as far as I'm aware. I'm seen studies performed where different items were used on a breathalizer and not one of them caused the machine to read any difference besides actual alcohol.

While if one is running high they may breath off an alcohol smell, it's not one the machine will pick up. Just one our noses think is the same.

Jill-O · #3 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:52 AM

I had heard, years ago, that diabetics may register a higher blood alcohol level than is actually the case. I don't know if it's true but it would be good if we all knew the low down on it.

Harold · #4 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 12:02 PM

I was in a Court Room years ago waiting on my turn at the bench when a type 1 tried to use that defense. The judge did not buy it and found him guilty of DUI. You might get away with it if your stopped and asked, but when they bring in the breath analyzer your toast.

DaveC426913 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold

I was in a Court Room years ago waiting on my turn at the bench when a type 1 tried to use that defense. The judge did not buy it and found him guilty of DUI. You might get away with it if your stopped and asked, but when they bring in the breath analyzer your toast.

Well, the querstion vame up on New Year's Eve when they would be testing for sure, regardless of what I said. I was concerned that, even though I'd been good booze-wise, I might blow over for the wrong reason.

duck · #6 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 04:00 PM

It's been years since I've had any sort of chemistry course, but for the life of me I can't think of how high blood sugars could translate in any way to anything related to the ROH/alcohol functional group in chemistry...

BlueSky · #7 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveC426913

... She told me that, if my blood sugars are high .., this could cause me to blow higher than normal on a breathalyzer.

True?

I suspect this notion is related to keytones in the breath smelling like booze. It is a case of jumping to the wrong conclusion.

DaveC426913 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

I suspect this notion is related to keytones in the breath smelling like booze. It is a case of jumping to the wrong conclusion.

I think the crux of the question has to do with what method Breathalyzers use to measure alcohol levels.