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