• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Alcohol advice please

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

Sprogladite

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi all,

I'm heading out this weekend in celebration of my 30th and plan to have a few drinks with my friends. I haven't had a drink in over a year as it's a migraine trigger for me, but it's only my 30th once so decided to risk it.

Back in my teens I used to find when I drank I would spike super high until the early hours when I'd then crash horrendously. Is there anything I can do to prevent/mitigate this? Should I bolus for the spike? I'm sure there will be an awful lot of non D friendly drinks, jagerbombs are almost a certainty. HELP!
 
If you drink beer or cider then you actually can bolus for it.......I think its like 10g a pint or there about..........but as you say the risk of dropping is there later when the liver finally gets going with the alcohol removal.....

a basal reduction, if your on a split dose with a before bed dose, would help overnight and also an uncovered snack of about 20-30g maybe.....

also consider snacks between pints as well, say every third pint, have a bag of crisps etc....

its always going to be trial and error, which it sounds like you wont be doing as you don't drink due to migraine....

take your meter with you and test as often as you can, which may not be that often if your out, but it is worth it staying on top of it if you can...
 
Thanks for your replies - I'm a little worried about pre-eating as I used to go very very high back in the day - probably because of the fruit juices etc in cocktails. I don't drink beer/cider and wine is an instant migraine so will def be steering clear of those. Just don't like going into something without some sort of plan! I will be wearing a libre so that will help.

Basal reduction is a good shout @novorapidboi26 as I'm on split dose of humulin i so I'll do that, thank you!

I guess I will be libre-watching and setting alarms in the night to check my levels and then taking it easy on the Sunday 🙂
 
Libre will take most of the nuisance out of the equation and allow you to have fun.......

same rules apply to fruit juices as long as you can estimate how much is being used......

for even less hassle, spirits with a diet mixer is the easiest.....but spirits give a more aggressive reaction from the liver and you may need to further reduce basal the next day too...

have fun.....😉
 
mikeyB said:
And there was me thinking all drinkers just stopped for a döner kebab on the way home. The things you learn on this forum....:D
Click to expand...
well...let's not rule anything out just yet :D
 
I was told not to bolus for the carbs in alcoholic drinks, as there is too much risk of going too low once your liver stops producing glucose to process the alcohol. And also eating a few carby type things in between will help to keep levels up.
Once in a while I can't really see the harm of letting your hair down and having a few 🙂
I think we all deserve it.
 
Great advice so far (lovely to see you posting again @novorapidboi26 🙂 )

I guess it’s a balance of ‘only once’ abandon and ‘not going nuts’ sensibleness.

Lagers, ciders and ales all have a rapid rise followed by drop for me. Wine and spirits (diet mixers or straight) leave my BG relatively alone unless I’ve had enough to see a BG drop.

If you know from past performance that your BG drops a lot, then snacking and basal reduction are wise.

In your shoes I would also set at least one alarm overnight to check and treat if necessary.

Unless you go stupid high I would not correct high BGs either. If you do then only give half what you normally would to allow for the alcohol drop.

Most of all... have fun!
 
At the moment I drink skinny bitches ha! Which is raspberry vodka, soda water and fresh lime. No sugar in it, so happy days. I try to stick to low sugar drinks, or if having cocktails making sure the few days before have been level.

I only get the drops the next day. So I reduce my insulin and just eat loads of naughty carby stuff to keep level.

The alarm is a good idea, and to keep testing whilst you are out, like its a sick day, its not the most fun testing when you want to party and dance the night away but its one of those sadly.

Enjoy!
 
Can I also add, make sure your friends look after you and know if you are having a hypo rather than them thinking you are drunk. Try not to worry though and have a fantastic 30th, I can’t remember that far back! :(
 
eggyg said:
Can I also add, make sure your friends look after you and know if you are having a hypo rather than them thinking you are drunk. Try not to worry though and have a fantastic 30th, I can’t remember that far back! :(
Click to expand...
Thank you! Luckily I should have one or two T1 friends who are also coming so they know to keep an eye on me. My best friend (who is also turning 30) is also fabulous in that she always makes sure I am home safely before she will relax and go home herself. She's the best 🙂
 
Ideal, more diabetics with you......that has to be a rare occurrence......
 
Thanks all, I made it through alive haha! Had a crash at 3am but thanks to Libre + alarms we got through it all :D
 
Northerner said:
Ah, good to hear 🙂 No need to worry about it for another 10 years now 😉
Click to expand...
Ha, I think after Saturday night the chances are good that in 10 years time I will be thinking I'm too old for such shenanigans :')
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top