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How Alcohol Affects Diabetes

Here are some other ways that alcohol can affect diabetes:

Moderate amounts of alcohol may cause blood sugar to rise, but excess alcohol can decrease the blood sugar level -- sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels.

Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.

Alcohol stimulates the appetite, which can cause overeating and may affect blood sugar control.

Alcoholic drinks often have a lot of calories, making it more difficult to lose excess weight.

Alcohol may also affect judgment or willpower, allowing for poor food choices.

Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.

Alcohol may increase triglyceride levels.

Alcohol may increase blood pressure.

 

People with diabetes who drink should follow these alcohol consumption guidelines:

Do not drink more than two drinks of alcohol in a one-day period if you are a man, or one drink if you are a woman. (Example: one alcoholic drink = 5-ounce glass of wine, 1 1/2-ounce "shot" of liquor or 12-ounce beer).

Drink alcohol only with food.

Drink slowly.

Avoid "sugary" mixed drinks, sweet wines, or cordials.

Mix liquor with water, club soda, or diet soft drinks.

Always wear a medical alert bracelet indicating you have diabetes.

 

Other Factors Which Can Affect Insulin Dosing

Insulin needs change throughout one’s life in response to changes in stress levels, activity level, physical growth, body weight, and diet, among others. A continuous glucose monitor can help avoid these problems as they come up, and should be considered by the healthcare provider.

It’s also important to note that keeping tight control of blood sugar levels can mean the difference for the diabetic patient for few to no diabetes-related complications, but the tighter the target is to the perfect “normal” blood sugar level, the bigger the chance of a low blood sugar event. This is especially true when considering how fine the line is between a healthy, normal blood sugar level--and one that is too low.

For instance, if blood sugar levels are constantly going into the low range, it is time to examine their insulin (or medication) dosing. If taking two units of insulin when blood sugar levels are high sends them down to 50mg/dL, then the amount of insulin dosed should be reduced. Good notes should be taken to record the results using differing amounts of insulin, then a plan should be put together so your patient know how to proceed in order to avoid repeated bouts of hypoglycemia.

Changes that can affect insulin needs:

  stress level

  activity level

  physical growth

  body weight

  diet

  others

 

Treat Hypoglycemia

The “rule of 15” (in the event of hypoglycemia eat 15 grams of carbohydrate and check levels again after 15 minutes) is a good general rule and a good place to start, but in reality most people will need to finetune this a bit to work best for them (depending on the situation, and their own body).

First off, keep a glucagon kit handy in case it’s needed. If your patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to help themselves, a glucagon kit can be a life saver. This should be kept wherever the patient is most of the time, or where they are likely to need it most (maybe at home, maybe in their gym bag or somewhere else).

Second, have your patients wear a medical alert ID bracelet. It’s a good idea for most diabetics to let others know they have diabetes and could need care immediately.

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