Does alcohol lower or raise bs?

[jalapino]

I have noticed a lot of peeps either say one or the other, but does alcohol raise or lower bs? just want to no which is true!! anyone no? 🙂

 

[Steff]

I have noticed a lot of peeps either say one or the other, but does alcohol raise or lower bs? just want to no which is true!! anyone no? 🙂

Depends on the individual I assume for me it raises my BS so thats why im down to only 10 pints a night now

 

[Northerner]

I have noticed a lot of peeps either say one or the other, but does alcohol raise or lower bs? just want to no which is true!! anyone no? 🙂

Both! It will raise your levels initially, due to the carb content of the drink, but then it can case your levels to fall later as the liver can't multitask and it prioritises processing the alcohol rather than releasing stores of glucose as it would normally be doing to keep your levels steady when you are not eating.

 

[AJLang]

As Northener says both but you also have to take into account that some alcoholic drinks have more carbohydrates than others eg there are no carbs worth counting in wine but there is in beer. I drank much much too much alcohol on Friday night which led to Hypos at 6.30pm and 730pm the following night - the alcohol reaction was the only thing that could have caused these hypos

 

[Northerner]

Yes, that's true - I think spirits are preferable to beer carb-wise. Personally, I find that real ale pushes my levels high, but lager or strong cider don't!

 

[StephenM]

Yes, that's true - I think spirits are preferable to beer carb-wise. Personally, I find that real ale pushes my levels high, but lager or strong cider don't!

I find real ales are extremely variable so tend to stick to just a few locally that seem to have no effect but on my BS. Guinness tends to lower it as does dry cider. Magners send it up and away. I think you have to find what suits you and stick with it.

 

[jalapino]

Depends on the individual I assume for me it raises my BS so thats why im down to only 10 pints a night now

As little as that 😉

 

[trophywench]

If you were drinking Sauternes instead of Pinot Grigio; Lambrusco rather than Cote du Rhone - it'd send your BG spiralling Amanda!

Draught 1664 is hypo city though for me! (or a case of 12 bottles from the Xmas before last that you'd forgotten about and which had got shoved to the back of the garage - lovely stuff that was! Tasted just like draught.)

 

[jalapino]

Yes, that's true - I think spirits are preferable to beer carb-wise. Personally, I find that real ale pushes my levels high, but lager or strong cider don't!

I drink cider all in all

 

[jalapino]

I find real ales are extremely variable so tend to stick to just a few locally that seem to have no effect but on my BS. Guinness tends to lower it as does dry cider. Magners send it up and away. I think you have to find what suits you and stick with it.

I only now drink ales when i go to beer x

 

[StephenM]

I only now drink ales when i go to beer x

I assume you mean beer festivals rather than Beer in Devon. If I go to one (only two in last three years) I tend to avoid anything over about 6% as they often seem loaded with carbs!