wine

[Godisgood]

Hey guys, I LOVE my wine. I am a new type two diabetic................I indulge alot but never eat sweets...what say you guys? :hmmmm:

[duck]

Everyone is different, but alcohol in general seems to supress the vast majority of the member's (who use it) liver from releasing glucose...This can cause a drop in blood sugar. One the one hand that can be good, on the other it can be bad. As in many things with this disease, you'll need to learn from trial and error what works for you, and TEST TEST TEST while you are going through those trials. And don't overdue the wine, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

[Peter Lee]

Duck is absolutely right and I would add - don't overdo anything. What you and your medical team are trying to do is to get your metabolism balanced and able to cope with normal living, overdosing on anything in your diet doesn't help a bit. :hmpf:

[Godisgood]

thanks guys for the input.......I could use a little help from someone whos been addicted to know what they did to cut down (besides the obvious)?? :confused: :confused: (oh, and I am a Brit living in USA...
I know alot of us Brits like our alcohol) :flute:

[LauRa Lu]

thanks guys for the input.......I could use a little help from someone whos been addicted to know what they did to cut down (besides the obvious)?? :confused: :confused: (oh, and I am a Brit living in USA...
I know alot of us Brits like our alcohol) :flute:

I love my red wine, I have a glass most evenings

I should cut down, but I remind my self of all the good that red wine does, it makes me ignore the bad :cheers:

I'm not addicted, but it's something I enjoy so I won't be giving it up unless I have to. :dancing2:

[birds_eye]

hey I luuurve my Red wine too, and find it doesnt really have a harsh affect on my sugars. I dont compensate with an extra dosage either, like I do when I have more than 1 beer, light of course :biggrin: but I had to find out and test test test for a while to experiment with alcohol, so do the same! it is a mission right now, but will be good for the future!

[Godisgood]

Thanks SO much for all your help. One more question: apparently you are not supposed to drink alcohol when you are on metformin? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[byu barry]

I drink and take 1000 mg of metformin a day. I do not drink all the time but I like to drink a lot when I do. I haven't heard about metformin causing any type of reaction. However, if you take any of the pancreas stimulators you run the risk of going low. I quit taking that class of drug about 2 months after I was DXed because I hit a few 50s and 60s after a night of partying. Anyway, you will probably see a lowering effect of BG when you drink.

[RBmumsie]

Ok, I need to jump in here - BYU, if you're going to tie one on, don't take your Metformin. There HAVE been studies and, bottom line - too much alcohol + Metformin = Lactic Acidosis = DEATH.

Now, before you totally wig out, low amounts of alcohol are deemed "ok". "Low amounts" is usually considered to be 2 drinks if you're a guy and 1 if you're a woman. Back in my younger days - well, that was just getting started.

GIG (I hope that acronym isn't offensive) - I'm English on my dad's side, Irish on my mum's, so I KNOW what you mean about Brits liking alcohol. Are you on any meds? I found that taking Metformin substantially decreased my desire for alcohol (and that was before I knew it could kill me!). If I were you, I'd try to cut back, drink chardonnays and red wines. Stay away from the white zinfandels - they are waaaay too sweet. Eat when you're drinking to slow down the processing of alcohol.

[byu barry]

OK, I stand corrected and maybe my post was a little misleading. Perhaps partying sounds like binge drinking (as I am not clear on what binge drinking is). If it means having more than two drinks in one sitting (when I do drink), then I am a binge drinker. I was under the impression that lactic acidosis is an extremely rare side effect which becomes a little more common if you are an alcoholic or a binge drinker. At any rate, here is a link to the information about metformin.
http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/metf-qa.htm

[RBmumsie]

Thanks for the Metformin link, BYU. And "binge drinking" - typically people that don't drink for days and then over-indulge. Example - people who refrain during the week and then get hammered on the weekend. I'm not passing judgement or shaking my finger at anyone - trust me, I've "binged" enough in my past.

As for Lactic Acidosis being an extremely rare side effect - I haven't seen the actual test results. All I know is that my doctor and the Diabetes counselors & nurses that I've seen here in Southern California have ALL pushed the "Metformin + alcohol = Death" button to an alarming degree. Perhaps we've had a higher share of incidents?

[lesley]

I am type 2 on 3 metformin per day and 3 Gliclazide - I average one drink of white wine a day (would love red but am allergic to it) sometimes have two/three, but usually one.

I do think that you need to read the directions for metformin - it gives you certain signs to look for regarding alcohol. If you type in meformin to Google you will be able to research the drug.

Certainly the info I have read suggests that large amounts of alcohol may be dangerous, but what I have had has not caused me any problems

HTH, Lesley

[ontheway]

One thing I would check on:
I have read in SEVERAL places that if you have any neuropathy, drinking alcohol will worsen that. My doctor confirmed this.
Even though red wine is beneficial for your heart, wouldn't you have to weigh that against the worsening of neuropathy?
Just a thought.
Has anyone heard/read anything about this? :listen:
Marye

[mg_2204]

I'm a Canadian living in your country Godisgood :p

Before being put on meds my doc asked me if I was a drinker. I am not. I will have a sip of After Shock or Schnapps once or twice a year and that's it. Just enough to soak my lips and that's it. My doc asked me for a good reason: you can't mix alcohol and meds, full stop. And it doesn't apply to just glucose lowering drugs...

It's best to keep away. My opinion.

The very best to you!

[jewelrynut]

One thing I would check on:
I have read in SEVERAL places that if you have any neuropathy, drinking alcohol will worsen that. My doctor confirmed this.
Even though red wine is beneficial for your heart, wouldn't you have to weigh that against the worsening of neuropathy?
Just a thought.
Has anyone heard/read anything about this? :listen:
Marye

I also have read this in several places about alcohol increasing neuropathy problems including the American Diabetes Association website. And of course I am sure, just :fisheye: like food, alcohol will effect us all differently. I never have been much of a drinker but like wine every now and then but since I already have some pretty bad pain in my left foot I choose to stay away from it. Like to keep my feet long as possible.

Jewelrynut

[ontheway]

Thanks Jewelrynut!
I was starting to second-guess myself since I hadn't seen any replies to my question! :stupido2:
I KNEW I had read it somewhere, though. Thanks for the confirmation!
:)
I'm like you, I like to err on keeping the feet!! :tee:
Marye

[Godisgood]

I get a pain in my foot at night. my internist has no idea what causes it. Do you know? could it be connected to the wine drinking/ metformin? you guys are all so helpful, thanks! Freda