Drink Safely ( Diabetes )
Alcohol can make blood glucose too high or too low, so take a few precautions when you have a drink. Eat a meal first to prevent low blood glucose. Remember that alcoholic beverages with mixers, wine, and beer contain carbohydrates that can cause your blood glucose to go too high. Choose lower calorie mixers such as mineral water, club soda, diet tonic water, diet soda, coffee, or tomato juice. Try to choose light beer or a glass of wine.
If your diabetes is in control, you can safely drink a moderate amount of alcohol — one drink a day for women and two for men. One drink is a 12-oz beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1 1/2 oz of liquor. If you have type 1 diabetes and you are not overweight, this serving would be an addition to your meal plan. If you have type 2 diabetes or are overweight, any alcohol you drink should be substituted for another food in your meal plan. Ask your RD for help in planning this.
Avoid alcohol completely if your blood glucose is out of control, if you’re pregnant, or if you have problems with alcohol abuse. You should also steer clear of alcohol if you have neuropathy, take prescription or over-the-counter medications that react with alcohol, if you haven’t eaten, or if you’ve just exercised vigorously.
B-man 