| When you have diabetes, you have to make a lot | | | | ineffective, so never drink to the point that you |
| of concessions in your diet. You not only have to | | | | need this shot. |
| watch what you eat, but you have to take into | | | | Does this mean that a person with diabetes can |
| consideration how much you eat and when you | | | | never consume alcohol? Not necessarily. If you |
| consume your food. It is a lot to plan, but by | | | | have diabetes, and especially if you control it with |
| taking charge of your diet, you can control your | | | | medication, you should talk to your doctor before |
| diabetes and live a much healthier life. | | | | you decide to have an alcoholic drink. If you have |
| Did you know that food is not the only thing you | | | | type 2 diabetes which you control through diet |
| need to monitor when it comes to putting things | | | | alone, or your doctor will allow you the occasional |
| into your body? Alcohol can radically affect your | | | | drink, there are some guidelines you can follow to |
| blood sugar, sending your levels out of control. | | | | safely consume alcoholic beverages. |
| Alcohol makes it very hard for your body to | | | | The first guideline is to never drink alcohol on an |
| overcome low blood sugar levels. It moves into | | | | empty stomach. Without food in your stomach, |
| your bloodstream at an amazing rate, usually | | | | the alcohol takes even longer to metabolize. |
| without metabolizing in your stomach. That is why | | | | Always consume some sort of food, even if it is |
| it is possible to fail a blood alcohol test within a | | | | a small snack, while you are drinking. |
| few minutes of consuming an alcoholic beverage. | | | | The second rule to follow is moderation. A |
| It takes the average person at least two hours | | | | woman with diabetes can usually handle one drink |
| to metabolize one alcoholic drink. This process | | | | and a man of average weight can usually safely |
| occurs in the liver. In a healthy person, the liver | | | | metabolize two alcoholic drinks. Any more than |
| has no problem doing its job, but when you have | | | | that will overwork your liver and cause your blood |
| diabetes, your liver already works overtime | | | | sugar to plummet. |
| changing your stored carbohydrates into glucose | | | | When you have diabetes, it is best to stick to |
| so your blood sugar can stay balanced. | | | | certain drink choices if you want to keep your |
| When a person with diabetes consumes alcohol, | | | | blood sugar in check. Only choose mixed drinks |
| they put themselves at risk of developing low | | | | that use sugar free mixers, such as diet soft |
| blood sugar. As the liver works to clear alcohol | | | | drinks, water, or sugar free seltzer. Light beer is a |
| from the blood stream, it focuses all of its | | | | better choice than a regular can of beer, and dry |
| attention on the task. That means it isn't available | | | | wines are also a good alternative. Another way to |
| to provide your body with the glucose that it | | | | consume less alcohol is to mix wine with sparkling |
| needs, causing you to have a low blood sugar | | | | water or club soda. |
| reaction. Drinking as little as 2 ounces of alcohol | | | | Just because you have diabetes, doesn't mean |
| can lead to low blood sugar in a person with | | | | you can't enjoy a drink now and then. Like all |
| diabetes. | | | | things, moderation is the key and making wise |
| Even taking a shot of Glucagon won't help you | | | | alcohol choices is a great way to drink to your |
| overcome low blood sugar if you have been | | | | health! |
| drinking. Alcohol actually renders Glucagon | | | | |