Social Life & Diabetes...

[courtyunker]

So, my question is.......... Is it possible to go and and enjoy some drinks with friends?

[JediSkipdogg]

Yes, I've done that quite often, but you have to do a few things while drinking. Firstly test more often than you normally do and don't try to many odd drinks. Remember that alcohol has a lowering BG affect. And if you do mixed drinks, those have a raising BG affect. But each mixed drink can be different. So you have to know how your body will react to them.

WHile drinking though you need to do a few things, firstly being test more often. I would say make sure you test at least every two hours as a minimum to make sure you don't run to low or two high. And only correct for major extremes, running 200 while drinking can actually be normal if you are having mixed drinks, but if you hit say 300, then correct.

The other item is to make sure that everyone you are with knows you are diabetic. That is just in case something happens.

Now not to scare you, but I use to work college campus security. One night on foot patrol we noticed a female walking down the street swaying from side to side. As usual, we made fun of her from a distance as we watched her trip a few times and even hit a tree once (drunk watching should be a good hobby.) Well, not to long and she took a huge stumble and went down. I rushed down to her and checked to make sure she was ok, and at that point she was vomiting pretty heavily with the smell of alcohol (trust me, it doesn't smell good.) I assumed she was just drunk till I saw a diabetic bracelet on her wrist. I tried to ask her if she was diabetic to confirm it, but she wasn't sure what I was asking so I just took my lancet and BG meter (replaced the lancet) and tested her blood. She was running somewhere in the low 20s. My point to this whole story is had she not had that bracelet on, I would have treated her as a total drunk had I not seen her bracelet. So I also recommend wearing a medical bracelet or necklace if you don't already.

And finally, this is only my 2 cents. Take it as you wish.

[DeusXM]

More info and links to other relevent threads can be found here:

http://www.diabetesforums.com/type-one-diabetes/7364-booze.html

[amylo]

I always go out with my mates; just remember to snack on something with carbs in. I find that even when i drink sugary things my blood sugar levels drop sharply in the morning and continue to drop throughout the day until midday at least. (if ur up that early that is!)

Hope that helps x

[Harold]

This weekend dLife is supposed to be about PARTYING! :party:

[diabetic dude]

I always go out with my mates; just remember to snack on something with carbs in. I find that even when i drink sugary things my blood sugar levels drop sharply in the morning and continue to drop throughout the day until midday at least. (if ur up that early that is!)

Hope that helps x
I no ye, ive been a diabetic for 3 months and have relised they always dorp in night time does any1 no why pls tell me

[Erin]

Well, If you're a drinker, it's probably the drink that's making you drop over night.

If you're dropping even when you're NOT drinking, could be your insulin is not right. I drop a lot over night if i'm taking even 2 too many units of lantus. Talk to your doc about this possibility.

[Cinnabon]

This falls on an "EAT n DRINK" situation. You have to be careful due to that alcohol does drop BS.

[Belinda]

Social life is just that...SOCIAL....what you need to do is know how your body reacts to different types of things. Don't over do it or go for a drunken moment.....go out have fun, test often, and do it all in moderation.

[Carwy]

Are you sure you want to drink?
Read this
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/01/30/health.alcohol.reut/index.html
I know diabetes is no fun. But if I had a choice I would choose diabetes over cancer any day.