Alcohol moves quickly into your body without being broken down in your stomach the way food is
Within 5 minutes there is enough alcohol in your blood to measure
The liver wants to clear the alcohol quickly as it can’t release any glucose stores until it has taken care of the alcohol
ONE STANDARD DRINK – IT’S NOT MUCH!
100mls wine
30mls spirits
1 can low alcohol beer 330mls
300mls (half a pint) beer
HOW MUCH ALCOHOL CAN YOU HAVE?
2 standard drinks for women
3 standard drinks for men
Don’t drink on an empty stomach – have carbohydrate snacks like bread, crackers and cheese, popcorn
Drink other things in between alcoholic drinks like water, diet fizzy, juice (will provide some carb if there’s not much food around)
Never count the carbohydrates from alcohol as part of your food intake
Don’t swap alcohol for food
You may need to have more carbohydrates at bedtime and less insulin overnight and the following day
Exercise lowers blood glucose levels and drinking may lower them further so it’s good to remember this if you are dancing as well as drinking
BE PREPARED FOR HYPOS
It can be hard to tell the difference between hypo symptoms and getting drunk
Have your meter, some glucose and carb snacks with you
Make sure your friend/s know you have diabetes and what to do if you go low and when they need to call for help
Wear your medic alert bracelet / pendant
RISKS OF LOW BLOOD GLUCOSE
Because the liver is processing the alcohol it can’t release glucose stores if your blood glucose level starts to drop
Glucagen injections are not any use if you have alcohol on board and go into a hypo
So you need to eat when you are drinking alcohol
Hypos can occur overnight or even as late as during the next day
CHECKING BLOOD GLUCOSE / INSULIN DOSES
Before you go to bed eat some supper (no rapid acting insulin with it) e.g. multigrain toast, banana, milk drink OR pop into your nearest BK or similar!
Reduce your long acting insulin by 20% / temporary basal of -20% on your pump, more if you have been dancing
Next morning check again and have some carbs for breakfast, may need less insulin to avoid hypo
Drink plenty of water or diet drinks
Watch for delayed hypos
HANGOVER / SICK
Decrease insulin
Follow sick day rules
Keep drinking plenty of water or diet drinks; drinks containing sugar if not eating or your blood sugar is low
TAKE HOME MESSAGES
Always eat some carbs when drinking
Don’t drink and drive
Always have some hypo treatment / snack with you
Make sure your friends know what to do if you go low