Smoking, drinking, love and more

Top Tips

• Although drinking alcohol is not against the law if you are over the legal age, you should be careful of when you drink (not before or during driving) and of how much you drink
• Over time alcohol can be very damaging to your liver, and this is true for people with and without diabetes
• Do not drink alcohol just because the people around you are – like smoking and taking drugs, no one should make you feel pressured into doing something you do not want to do
• Remember: people drink alcohol because it usually has pleasant effects such as feeling more relaxed. In other words it alters how you think and feel. If you have diabetes you should always try to remain in control of how you think and feel about managing your diabetes
• Alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia. It does this by stopping the liver from producing glucose when you need it (particularly during the night and especially during a hypo)
• If you want to start drinking alcohol, start off on small amounts at home with your family and check your glucose levels regularly so you can see the effect it has on your body in a safe environment: - Never drink on an empty stomach as the alcohol will be absorbed much quicker - Whenever you drink alcohol, always have some carbohydrate as well - You might find it’s best to have less insulin if you’re drinking outside the home in the evening – but check your blood glucose levels to be sure that the insulin is correct for you
• Too much alcohol (getting drunk) has similar effects to being hypo – loss of balance, wobbly, unable to think straight – so you probably won’t know if you’re hypo and people around you won’t know whether you’re drunk or hypo
• At first, most alcoholic drinks raise your blood glucose levels because they contain carbohydrate (especially if you mix them with sugary mixers!) but 3-4 hours after drinking alcohol, the blood glucose levels may begin to fall, depending on how much you have been drinking
• If you drink more than usual, you risk developing hypoglycemia during the night and part of the next day. So… - test your blood glucose levels before bed (and probably during the night) and for the next 24 hours - have some carbohydrate before going to sleep - perhaps reduce your bedtime insulin and the rapid acting insulin the day after drinking
• Before drinking with your friends, think about eating extra carbohydrates for your evening meal for example pasta, and eat some carbohydrate snacks mid-evening. Especially if you have been playing games or dancing you may have used up lots of extra energy so you’ll need even more carbohydrate
• Remember some alcoholic drinks contain more sugar than others: for example liqueurs and alcopops, so they may cause blood glucose levels to rise for some time before dropping later
• Low-alcohol beers and lagers tend to be higher in sugar so stick to the normal ones
• Do not drink beers that say they are for people with diabetes, as they will be higher in alcohol
• Eat carbohydrate-containing foods before, during and after alcohol consumption
• Always carry your hypo treatment and keep it near you during the night
• Never ever try to walk downstairs on your own if you wake up hypo or under the influence of drink – have carbohydrate by your bedside
• Be sure your friends who are with you know you have diabetes and explain that sometimes being hypo seems like being drunk. They should know how to treat a hypo
• Drink plenty of water or sugar free drinks throughout the evening to prevent dehydration
• Make sure your parents know you’ve had a drink – let them know when you get home
• Set your morning alarm so you don’t let yourself sleep too late after drinking the night before, as you’re at risk of a late severe hypo. Get up, check the blood glucose level and have breakfast with extra carbohydrate
• Let your parents and friends know that if a night time hypo occurs after drinking, a glucagon injection can be given but may not be as effective at raising glucose levels as it normally is