A question about Alcohol and Diabetes.

[Rob43]

Hi, I know girl that 25 years old and is a alcoholic real bad and she is a type 1 diabetic. She also takes two shots a day of insulin. This lady is skinny. Does Alcohol and Diabetes mix?

Rob

[shockme]

NO!it can cause major hypos...trish

[Rob43]

Is it true alcohol brings the BG down?

Rob

[someone]

It could be true that alcohol brings your BG down/increases the effect of insulin, but if it was very significant, people wouldn't be taking insulin injections.

[LauRa Lu]

Alcohol intake increases insulin sensitivity. In my experience and through what little I know, alcohol does not reduce suger levels, it causes the body to release less sugar. Which with us diabetics would mean our insulin is working with less sugar than it should... and that is what causes lows.

Some alcohol has sugar in it which will cause blood sugar levels to rise, but the affect of the alcohol will often cause it to then be lowered.

I may not be correct but this is what I think is correct from what I know.

Alcohol and diabetes can mix, many of us, especially us students can be proof of that. But I know what alcoholics can be like I very much doubt being an alcoholic mix's with much at all let alone diabetes.

[sofaraway]

for me it's very true, i went out last week and drank 4 alcopops (It was like I was 15 again!) which would have been
4 x 30g sugar = 120g and I didn't have to bolus for any of it.

started night at 6.7
part way through night 10.4
before going to bed 11.3
next morning 6.3

so although i did get a rise, had I bolused anything i am sure I would have ended up hypo.

[JediSkipdogg]

Ok...here we go again... LOL

Diabetics CAN drink alcohol. There is NO reason they shouldn't be able to IN MODERATION AND CONTROL.

Pure 100% proof alcohol in itself has a glucose lowering effect. Mixed with anything else, and the effects change. How it effects a person is the same way a slice of cheese pizza effects everyone, differently. Each kind of drink can have a different effect on the BG level. Beer sometimes may equal itself out depending on how fermented it is and a noticable effect may not be seen. Mixed drinks may actually raise the BG depending on how much and what is mixed together. Each drink has it's own effect and a person needs to try that drink and learn that drink.

Now, that was the control part. Let's talk about the moderation part. Alcohol poisoning and just drunkedness have the SAME general effects and symptons of a low BG. And when a person is drunk, they don't have the correct mindset to test and test often and then correct if needed. Also, if one relies on friends, they may not be helping themselves at all. They would be putting their life in the hands of friends that wouldn't know what ot do if they have been drinking themselves. It's a dangerous situation and one that I think tells the maturity level of a person.

It could be true that alcohol brings your BG down/increases the effect of insulin, but if it was very significant, people wouldn't be taking insulin injections.

Well....there is a HUGE problem there. Alcohol simply lowers the BG level by pushing glucose the body faster and making the liver produce less. The problem is, alcohol DOES NOT push glucose into the cells. Therefore, your body would be starved of glucose for energy. Essentially, you wouldn't want to move/couldn't move.

[spirosway]

except hypos the alcohol destroy much more human cells(like brain cell,eye cells ans others)....she must stop drinking now!!!

[LancetChick]

Alcohol and my type 1 are involved in a very happy relationship! I don't drink every day, or even every other day, but a bottle or more of wine on a Friday night is no big deal for me. Having said that, I have to make significant insulin adjustments, so anyone who is inexperienced with mixing alcohol and insulin should not take it lightly. Alcoholism, however, is something else altogether, since permanent liver damage is a real possibility, not to mention the fact that alcoholics tend to turn a blind eye to their health and well-being. I think the alcoholism should be addressed first, but that's just my opinion. And after that..... two shots a day is unusual in people with well controlled type 1, but then she may be drinking most of her calories. Good luck, since I'm not sure there's much you can do to make her face facts that she may not want to face.

[Dewey]

For each person it's different, so I think it's wise to try & keep a check on levels any time a person decides to drink...or at the very least, have a friend around to help in the event anything happens.

I've heard of a lot of folks who have experienced lowered BGs as a result of drinking certain things, but when I've had Vodka, I've found my BGs to rise (maybe more slowly, but they still go up). :s: This happens regardless of whether a bolus is given (I sometimes bolus, 'cause I usually eat when I drink). I've also noticed that it takes very little to get me feeling "tipsy" nowadays. This is likely due to the fact that I hardly ever drink (lost a grandmother to cirrhosis of the liver & a friend to alcohol poisoning, so I don't like drinking that much).

As Jedi said, moderation is key and keeping a check on levels is also important. Like spirosway said, alcohol kills other things/cells, so it's wise to stop or moderate consumption. If the gal is alcoholic, it's just better that she stops drinking altogether.

[Rob43]

I hate to say it but she takes other drugs to other then legal drugs.

Rob

[Dewey]

I hate to say it but she takes other drugs to other then legal drugs.

Rob
What kind of drugs are we talking here? If you mean cocaine or something, then that's a Major issue...She can also be very affected if she's dabbling in drinking & marijuana heavily. This person sounds like she might need intervention.

Drugs & alcohol can indeed ruin her life, if it hasn't happened already.

[Rob43]

Marijuana she smokes also and she smoke cigarettes to. The marijuana is off and on and the cigarettes are everyday. She live with a guy that is drug addict. Her family has given up on her. Like they said you cann't make somebody do something they don't want to.

Rob

[Injecto]

Alright, I'm going to say it too. You can drink. I do, and I love it. Sure it brings me lower but then I just take less insulin or I eat more, depending on how I feel. Test too just to keep check, but please, go ahead and drink.

I hear the word "moderation" lots, and though I agree with that, it tends to let people think that they can never ever let themselves get that just bit tipsy ever again...well I assure you, I allow myself to get drunk...not blathering falling all over drunk, but happy tippsy, and frankly I find nothing wrong with that every now and again, especially in the summer. If I'm not allowed to get tippsy with a few ice cold brews on a hot summer day then I've just lost another part of life that I love.

So, yeah, have a drink, or two, or maybe four on occasion. Just keep those "occasions" in moderation, especially if you have great BG control most of the time.

:beer: :cheers:

P.S. Just be sure to have a good snack before going to sleep after you drink...just to be safe. As for the drugs, don't be a *******, diabetes is bad enough.

[Maddogg]

Marijuana she smokes also and she smoke cigarettes to. The marijuana is off and on and the cigarettes are everyday. She live with a guy that is drug addict. Her family has given up on her. Like they said you cann't make somebody do something they don't want to.

Rob

I wouldn't worry too much about marijuana, weed can actually prevent lung cancer and repair damaged cells in the body (and destroy the bad cells). Cigarettes on the other hand, are much much worse, especially if your diabetic. I would definitely recommend she cut back on the cancer sticks! If she can quit completely that would be perfect but if she needs to do one or the other, I would tell her to ditch the fags and stick with the pot, only because there are many other ways to enjoy marijuana without smoking it and killing your lungs.

[Cyborg]

So, yeah, have a drink, or two, or maybe four on occasion. Just keep those "occasions" in moderation, especially if you have great BG control most of the time.

I agree... Just be careful and always remain in control of yourself. I always lower my basal when drinking and set it to a profile that does not compensate for DP.

I wouldn't worry too much about marijuana, weed can actually prevent lung cancer and repair damaged cells in the body (and destroy the bad cells).

I'm not against it, but that's just pure malarkey...