| Summer celebrations are full of social | | | | prevent low blood glucose. |
| celebrations that are a challenge anyone | | | | |
| following a weight loss diet -- weddings, | | | | * Choose vodka, whiskey, rum, wine or low |
| lazy BBQs, vacations and neighborhood block | | | | carb beer. Avoid sugary mixed drinks or |
| parties. If you're diabetic and planning to | | | | regular beer which can cause your blood sugar |
| drink alcohol, you can make smart choices | | | | to skyrocket. |
| with a bit of advance planning. | | | | |
| | | | * Choose low calorie mixers like mineral |
| Alcohol doesn't have to be off limits if your | | | | water, club soda, diet tonic water or diet |
| diabetes is under control. Key phrase: Under | | | | soda. |
| Control. Alcohol can make blood glucose too | | | | |
| high or too low and interfere with how your | | | | * An ideal low calorie low carb drink is to |
| diabetes meds work. | | | | mix 4 oz of white wine with 4 oz of a low |
| | | | calorie mixer like mineral water or diet lime |
| If you're following a low carb weight loss | | | | soda. |
| program consider the carbohydrate gram counts | | | | |
| as well as calories. Alcohol adds up | | | | * Measure the amount of alcohol you drink or |
| quickly! American Diabetic Association | | | | you're guaranteed to go over the calories or |
| alcohol guidelines suggests daily limits of 1 | | | | carbs you planned for. |
| drink for women or 2 for men. | | | | |
| | | | If you have type 1 diabetes and aren't |
| One drink is 12 oz light beer, 4 oz wine or | | | | overweight, count alcohol servings in |
| 1.5 oz hard liquor. Don't have a set of | | | | addition to your low carb meal plan. If you |
| measuring cups with you at the party? Try | | | | are a type 2 diabetic or are overweight, any |
| these visual clues when "eyeballing" portion | | | | alcohol you drink should be a substitution |
| sizes: | | | | for another food in your low carb meal plan. |
| | | | Be smart, don't forfeit food so you can drink |
| A 4 oz serving of wine is the equivalent of | | | | more. Ask your doctor for specific food |
| a kid's pudding cup. A 8 oz yogurt | | | | exchange examples. |
| container is roughly 2 "servings" of wine. A | | | | |
| 1.5 oz serving of liquor is a mere 3 | | | | Avoid alcohol completely if your blood |
| tablespoons (half a pudding cup!) | | | | glucose is out of control, have neuropathy, |
| | | | take medications that react with alcohol or |
| Keep these tips in mind to blend occasional | | | | if you've just exercised vigorously. |
| alcoholic drinks with low carb weight loss: | | | | |
| | | | Test -- don't guess. Alcohol can be tricky |
| * Eat a low carb meal before you drink to | | | | with glucose levels. |