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Stupid question about booze

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

Lauras87

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Ok stupid question time

I drink normally diet drinks with spirits but I'm going out at the weekend with a friend.

I'd love to get off my trolly but don't dare do it.

I know I need to eat carbs before bed but what insulin do I give for cocktails?

I asked at clinic & got told cocktails are fine just take insulin (er how much? & never got an answer)

Can anyone advise?
 
I would be very cautious giving insulin for drinks. I hope by 'off your trolley' you don't mean being so drunk you can't take care of yourself. I would say getting drunk to the point where you still know what you're doing and can safely take care of yourself is the limit for us diabetics. As any further than that and you're basically putting your life in someone else's hands.
What I've been told in the past is to bolus no more than half what you normally would for the amount of carbs are in the drinks as insulin will bring your BG levels down much further for carbs taken as liquid than it does for solids. Carb counting drinks isn't easy for obvious reasons. Best bet would be to maybe bolus for a quarter of the amount you normally would and see how you get on with that and go from there.
 
to be safe you should maybe take 1 units for every couple of cocktails, there will probably be more than that in them but its best to be safe...........

can you envisage how many you will be having?
 
I would say the advice redrevis has given is spot on. Personally, I have never bolused for alcohol, different alcohol does different things to your BG and I've always preferred to running a little higher than risking a major hypo on a night out. Saying that I've never got very drunk since being diabetic, can't tell the difference between being drunk and hypo and that scares me, so I am usually the one who drives!

Have a great night out but be safe.
 
I've never been drunk but by being off my trolly I mean merry (the thought of being so drunk I'm poorly doesnt appeal & scares me)

I was thinking max of 4 cocktails so am unsure about taking insulin for booze as I know alcohol has fun with our bloods for about 48 hours.

I'd just like a nice normal night out with my diabetes ruling the night
 
Care is needed ! I dont bolus when going out but everyones different & i dont drink cocktails. (liable to have sweet things in but ? full fat coke or diet ?). The next morning you will normally be low bg & on the night out high. Allways have something to eat before going out. Have a good nt out 🙂
 
Evening,

Fair question and I will say play safe first off, but do play😉

We are all different and only once have I injected whilst on the drink. I always test more often than ever and judge if I should eat if I have had some neat booze such as spirits, but wouldn't munch so much if I was on beer.

If you haven't drunk munch then take extra care and make sure the people you are with know what to do in case.

Be careful if testing and you've been drinking sticky shots got a shock not that long ago have some drink on my finger tested saw "high" and injected 6 units (quite a bit for me) then retested not high at all, so went to get a pint of full fat coke, ruined the night for me to be honest.

Afterthought, also be very careful for the next day you may need less than normal, there is a science reason but I forget that juat test and be more careful the next day or at least until lunch.

I fancy a drink now!

Cheers

Rossi...
 
Last edited:
Evening,

Fair question and I will say play safe first off, but do play😉

We are all different and only once have I injected whilst on the drink. I always test more often than ever and judge if I should eat if I have had some neat booze such as spirits, but wouldn't munch so much if I was on beer.

If you haven't drunk munch then take extra care and make sure the people you are with know what to do in case.

Be careful if testing and you've been drinking sticky shots got a shock not that long ago have some drink on my finger tested saw "high" and injected 6 units (quite a bit for me) then retested not high at all, so went to get a pint of full fat coke, ruined the night for me to be honest.

Afterthought, also be very careful for the next day you may need less than normal, there is a science reason but I forget that juat test and be more careful the next day or at least until lunch.

I fancy a drink now!

Cheers

Rossi...

Thanks Rossi.

I can't do shots they are too strong.
Ill more than likely have a few glasses of water to each drink.

See cheap date!
 
tap water or posh peckham springs stuff?

Enjoy yourself whatever!

Rossi.
 
tap water or posh peckham springs stuff?

Enjoy yourself whatever!

Rossi.

Tap water, come on I'm from Yorkshire! Not made of money you know!!!
 
My first couple of drinks id normally bolus my normal ratio, so say I start with a couple of pints then ill bolus based on 10g - 15 a pint as normal. Then Ill halve the bolus if I carry on on beer for the next couple. Theeeenn I usually forget all about it and have a good night. Its only occasionally these days so I allow it. I try to get on the red wine as quick as possible now as it hasnt much effect on me. Its only if I end up at the inidan or kebab shop that I end up with horrendously high bgs. I dont tend to suffer instant hypos from drinking, infact the carbs in beer wine alcopops etc send me soaring high for the night without bolusing. It does however effect me throughout the next day and I have to reduce my bolus's.
 
Personally cocktails are the only things I try to avoid as they are so hard to carb count for. My advice woukd be keep testing, make sure you have sugar tabs or something of you, and not to panic if your levels to quite high initially, the carb in the cocktails will affect you quicker than the lowering affect of the alcohol.
Are you going clubbing, if so remember to count that as exercise.

Have fun!
 
I avoid cocktails cause they is too bloomin expensive!

Not coz your pinky comes out?

I'm avoiding peroni after tonight, I feel awful after 2 pints
 
Personally cocktails are the only things I try to avoid as they are so hard to carb count for. My advice woukd be keep testing, make sure you have sugar tabs or something of you, and not to panic if your levels to quite high initially, the carb in the cocktails will affect you quicker than the lowering affect of the alcohol.
Are you going clubbing, if so remember to count that as exercise.

Have fun!

Yup doing the clubbing thing, with my dance moves ill have burnt all the booze off after 1 dance
 
woowoo's are great and the name is great tooo!

My pinky only comes out when drinking silly tea in silly little cups (I'm a tea in a mug man)

peroni is a great lager, the italians have good booze in general...

surprisingly I am actually on vino blanco! What's that all about? I'll tell ya, there's no vino rouge and lager is in a cupboard hard to get to...
 
I love Woowoo's :D

Someone I know says woowoo in the campest voice & him being 6 foot plus is so funny

surprisingly I am actually on vino blanco! What's that all about? I'll tell ya, there's no vino rouge and lager is in a cupboard hard to get to...

Step ladder?
 
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