[davef]

This will be my first Christmas since DX and while I have planned what I'll be eating, so that I can enjoy the day without going mad, I'm trying to work out the alcohol side of things.

I have a Christmas party to go to this weekend and the first since DX. Before DX I drank beer, red wine and good Vodka, however I was thinking of sticking to red wine. My BG has been coming down over the past few weeks since DX and if hovering about 6.5-7.5 mmol/L in the morning.

I also have my wife's 40th coming up 2 days after Christmas so would like to plan ahead, tell my wife what my plans are so that she can keep and eye on me. There have been times when I get together with my friends that we can get very enthusiastic about "sampling" the wine, perhaps, unfortunately I have a big capacity for wine and don't get hangovers! Don't get me wrong I have no problem abstaining completely, I'd just bring my car as I won't have a single sip if I'm driving.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

[princesslinda]

Dave: Last year was my first Christmas with diabetes and I really let myself stress out. This year, I intend to enjoy the festivities, in moderation of course.

I seem to remember you're on metformin?....I was on 500 mg metformin twice daily last holiday, and did toast in the new year without problems. I've found that a glass of red wine at bedtime 3-4 times a week has helped raise my HDL, and has very little effect on my blood sugar.

Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to lower, so its good to keep close check on things until you know your individual response....also, don't drink on an empty stomach.

[caswellhb]

I find it is perfectly safe to drink wine as long as I test often and have some nibbles close at hand. Beer tends to mess things up with me so I don't drink it. The odd shot seems ok as long as I nibble with it.
Goodness, I sound like a lush now!
Have a great time at your parties and have one for me.

Heather.

[Evermont]

I think you're gonna be fine Dave. Just relax, kick your feet up, and celebrate at your party. It seems that diabetes has your full attention and your response to it in general is right on. One party isn't going to derail you but overthinking it might spoil the party.

The beers I love have eye raising effect on my BG so I have cut way back on those. Mixers can be a problem too, and my favorite liquors have me a bit vexed. Like you I'm new to all this. I need to do a lot more experimenting before I reach conclusions about various types of alcohol. The red wine is a great choice.

Since you seem to be in charge of the drinking rather than the drinking being in charge of you, you'll find that you can indulge modestly and still have a great time. Perhaps more fun than if you overdid it.

It's great that your wife has your back, it's always good to have support. Personally, I don't ask my wife to police my eating, drinking, or anything else. I wouldn't want to erode my own personal responsibility be leaning on someone else that way. She's got herself to worry about. Actually, it kind of pisses her off that I don't "need" her more that way. Overly independent? So I'm not sure this is good advice, it's just my way.

Load up on water before during and after. Water is your friend.

Cheers!

[Jill-O]

I drink periodically but not excessively (no more than two drinks). BUT, I am already looking forward to cocktails on Christmas!

[kgm0612]

Although I'm a type 1 pumper & also taking Metformin, I have a glass of wine almost every evening. Before being dx'd almost 5 years ago, I was in love with all those frozen fruity drinks. I stopped drinking those and switched over to either White Zin or diet ginger-ale and Jack Daniels.


Karen

[davef]

Thanks everyone for your continued help!

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to lower, so its good to keep close check on things until you know your individual response....also, don't drink on an empty stomach.

I plan to have something small to eat before I head out to the party, the people we are going make AMAZING food so don't want to fill up before I get there. Also will make sure to check my BG before/during/after party, first one so want to see how I do. Certainly not going to stress about it, this is time to be calm and relaxed!

Originally Posted by caswellhb

I find it is perfectly safe to drink wine as long as I test often and have some nibbles close at hand. Beer tends to mess things up with me so I don't drink it. The odd shot seems ok as long as I nibble with it.
Goodness, I sound like a lush now!
Have a great time at your parties and have one for me.

I'm going to stick to the red wine (there's a song about that, isn't there?) and nibbles will not be a problem, the walk the following day will be a bit longer though. Don't think you can be called a lush, I'm the one who asked - what does that make me

Originally Posted by Evermont

One party isn't going to derail you but overthinking it might spoil the party.

It's great that your wife has your back, it's always good to have support. Personally, I don't ask my wife to police my eating, drinking, or anything else. I wouldn't want to erode my own personal responsibility be leaning on someone else that way.

Load up on water before during and after. Water is your friend.

I'm afraid that I'm a bit of an a**l retentive, I liked to plan ahead, once I have a plan I can relax and even give myself some leeway.

Good point about being personally responsible, I reckon my wife might be watching me anyway (as we're both just getting used to my diabetes) and if I tell her my plan she can relax too.

Hadn't thought about the water, before DX I did normally drink water after drinking and before sleep, but now I'll remember it before and during, which will also let me spread my wine over the night by interspersing it with water.

Originally Posted by Jill-O

I drink periodically but not excessively (no more than two drinks). BUT, I am already looking forward to cocktails on Christmas!

Have never really been into cocktails, well expect for one night of Long Island Ice teas. Enjoy your cocktails & Christmas.

Originally Posted by kgm0612

Although I'm a type 1 pumper & also taking Metformin, I have a glass of wine almost every evening. Before being dx'd almost 5 years ago, I was in love with all those frozen fruity drinks. I stopped drinking those and switched over to either White Zin or diet ginger-ale and Jack Daniels.

It's great to hear you can enjoy wine on a regular basis, once I get my weight under control I'll let myself have some at the weekends!

Again thank you all for your help.

[xMenace]

I bolus my drinks and cut my basals 50% one hr for each ounce of alcohol plus an hour - 2 beers = 3 hours of reduced basals starting at the end of the last drink. Experience says I need to do this or go hypo later. Alcohol can behave differently for different people and on different occaisions. Plan on it dropping later and either reduce basal or eat extra to cover it. If you soar high, skip breakfast. You'll likely want to anyway. One or two days of highs due to celebrations are acceptible.

[DCaplinger]

xMenace: Forgive my newbieness, but what's a basal?

davef: Thank you for asking this question. I have been asking myself the same thing. I like beer (especially during football season), and would hate to have to give it up completely as well.

To everyone else: Thank you for being kind enough to answer these questions. It's nice to know we are among friendly people, who have not only walked in the shoes we are starting to wear, but are willing to share their experiences.

Regards,

Darian

[xMenace]

It's your background or long term insulin. Insulin pump - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lants and Levemir are basal insulins. I can control mine down to every half hour, so when my liver is busy processing alcohol instead of releasing sugars, I turn mine down. Lantus/Levemir injectors can't do this.

[DCaplinger]

Ah, thank you for the response. I've not learned any of the terminology of type 1's. I guess I'll have to educate myself about that as well.

Regards,

Darian

[natalie021]

I find that as long as I stick to low carb beer(Miller Lite), or wine with a percentage of alcohol above %12, my sugars stay pretty stable. I've also experimented with unsweetened spirits with diet drinks, and these do okay for me as well. I don't really get the delayed lows after drinking that most type ones get....If I drink a wine with an alcohol percentage below %12- my bg goes sky high! Too much residual sugars...

[Schlep]

What about low carb beer?