• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Booze is Important

Blackheath_Teahut

Blackheath_Teahut

Active Member
Messages
29
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,
I have just been diagnosed as type 2 Diabetic and was put on Metformin (1 with a meal this week, two next week).

I have a very active social life. I love to drink. Not every day, but every other. I drink mainly wine, or vodka and diet tonic.

I don't get slurry drunk or anything like that but I do drink a lot more than advised.

I am looking for something other than the advice "stop drinking" because I don't want that. That said, I have just stopped drinking for a month because two nights ago while drinking (a lot, cocktails, wine), my lips began pinging away like an electric current was ripping through them, my vision went wild for a moment or two and all was not well. So that shocked me enough to take this medication very seriously and googling it, discovered Hypoglycemia. Lesson learned.

My question is, what is the best alcohol to drink in February?

Huge thank you.
 
Well...I guess I have to put the thing in here that says drink alcohol within safe limits etc, although if you use the Italian safe limits you can have about three times as much per week compared to the UK. The main risk for me is that after a couple of drinks I might be a little more inclined to eat something I shouldn't. I too like a drink and thought that with T2 I wouldn't be drinking much anymore. Not so. Spirits are carb free and wine is fairly low. You're always told to avoid beer but there is at least one decent low-carb beer and one or two proper beers a week in the context of a daily carb intake of 20 g or so doesn't seem to affect my BG. In addition, alcohol lowers my BG - I'm not alone in this - as the liver concentrates on processing the alcohol rather than carbs. They still get processed - just a lot more slowly, so no spikes. I'm not going to tell you what you should drink, because we're all different and what works for me won't necessarily work for you. Mixers can be very sugary so watch what you put in with your alcohol.
 
Hi @Blackheath_Teahut and welcome to the forum.
I don’t want to be a party pooper but Metformin and excessive or binge drinking alcohol, aside from hypoglycaemia, runs the risk of lactic acidosis which is a potentially serious condition. I don’t drink myself but I’m sure others will suggest the most suitable drinks to enjoy safely with type 2 and Metformin.
Here’s some info you might find helpful:
https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/metformin.html
 
KennyA said:
Well...I guess I have to put the thing in here that says drink alcohol within safe limits etc, although if you use the Italian safe limits you can have about three times as much per week compared to the UK. The main risk for me is that after a couple of drinks I might be a little more inclined to eat something I shouldn't. I too like a drink and thought that with T2 I wouldn't be drinking much anymore. Not so. Spirits are carb free and wine is fairly low. You're always told to avoid beer but there is at least one decent low-carb beer and one or two proper beers a week in the context of a daily carb intake of 20 g or so doesn't seem to affect my BG. In addition, alcohol lowers my BG - I'm not alone in this - as the liver concentrates on processing the alcohol rather than carbs. They still get processed - just a lot more slowly, so no spikes. I'm not going to tell you what you should drink, because we're all different and what works for me won't necessarily work for you. Mixers can be very sugary so watch what you put in with your alcohol.
Click to expand...


Thank you very much Kenny. That's reassured me a lot. I wondered why I liked Italy so much! I am the same with eating afterwards but if I can stick to vodka and understand no eating after it, I will. This is all new territory for me, ordered the blood testing machine and a book on diet. I think this lockdown is going to be a crash course reading this forum.
 
Rachox said:
Hi @Blackheath_Teahut and welcome to the forum.
I don’t want to be a party pooper but Metformin and excessive or binge drinking alcohol, aside from hypoglycaemia, runs the risk of lactic acidosis which is a potentially serious condition. I don’t drink myself but I’m sure others will suggest the most suitable drinks to enjoy safely with type 2 and Metformin.
Here’s some info you might find helpful:
Click to expand...

Thanks, Rachox,
I've just stumbled across this too. Looks like I've got a lot of reading and thinking to do. Appreciated.
 
Blackheath_Teahut said:
Thank you very much Kenny. That's reassured me a lot. I wondered why I liked Italy so much! I am the same with eating afterwards but if I can stick to vodka and understand no eating after it, I will. This is all new territory for me, ordered the blood testing machine and a book on diet. I think this lockdown is going to be a crash course reading this forum.
Click to expand...
Hi, just noticed you're new here. I found this place about a year ago and the advice is sound - there are people who've got tons more experience and knowledge than me, and are really happy to pass it on. The meter is really the key to controlling your BG - it will tell you what you can handle and what you can't.
 
I'm on one metformin a day and I probably do drink quite abit. I drink red wine. I test my blood sugars a lot and haven't noticed an impact on my blood sugars. But if I drink too much I would often feel hungry next day which I don't want! I try not to have more than half a bottle at a time. Important point by Rachox though, I'll be looking into that as not heard of it x
 
Blackheath_Teahut said:
This is all new territory for me, ordered the blood testing machine and a book on diet. I think this lockdown is going to be a crash course reading this forum.
Click to expand...

Brilliant that you have ordered a blood glucose machine, you will learn so much from the readings. However can I ask what diet book you have ordered? There are still some diets out there that are rather old school and less effective than a low carb way of eating which many of us on this forum have had great success with.
 
It's The 8 Week Blood Sugar recipe book that accompanies the Michael Mosley book (didn't buy the Michael Mosley one). I bought it to get a greater understanding of what I can/can't eat and build up a few reserve recipes so I'm not standing in the kitchen resorting to the usual culprits.

I am really interested in the diets you have found to be very effective though. I should have maybe waited to buy a book and looked on here first.
 
Blackheath_Teahut said:
It's The 8 Week Blood Sugar recipe book that accompanies the Michael Mosley book (didn't buy the Michael Mosley one). I bought it to get a greater understanding of what I can/can't eat and build up a few reserve recipes so I'm not standing in the kitchen resorting to the usual culprits.

I am really interested in the diets you have found to be very effective though. I should have maybe waited to buy a book and looked on here first.
Click to expand...

Try the diet doctor for recipes too
 
Thank you, Kenny. So with the Machine, do I use it as a guide to what suits me and what doesn't? Eat something and then 2 hours later, see what effect it had?
 
The eight week blood sugar diets are effective, however you’ll need a plan for your eating long term, that’s when low carbing is good as it’s very sustainable.
When you get your meter you’ll need to test before your meal then two hours later, you’re looking for a rise of no more than 2mmol/l. You’ll also notice your readings following a general downward trend if your diet is suiting you.

Edit for typo.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for making this so clear. There's so much to take in but you've clarified a lot for me. Gradually reading through the site and having my eyes opened to what's in store. Invaluable to read the real experiences of people too instead of just sitting alone with a book. Makes it a lot less frightening.
 
welcome Blackheath teahut.
I'm only 9 months ahead of you in diagnosis. Best at the beginning to never say never to anything. I went low carb. Lost a lot of weight, easily, without hunger. But have also lost my ability to enjoy alcohol, because now just one glass of wine makes me quite tipsy and 2 gives me enormous headache and hangover, yet I used to be able to tolerate much much more. I just don't need or want so much any more, just like I no longer want or need huge amounts of chocolate any more.
Its an interesting journey, individual with twists and turns, but I am enjoying being in the body I have now much more than the body and foods I used to have.
Who knows what journey your body will take you on? Just enjoy the ride
 
Two Metformin a day here. I've never been much of a drinker, though I really like a good pint in a good pub... Covid and the carbs in ale put paid to that - but I have acquired a very enjoyable single malt whisky habit since diagnosis in March.

Whisky and cheese, a superb combination (and carb free). I have two or three drams two or three times a week with a good cheddar or manchego.
 
I was always a cheap date - a very light head. I used to tell the bar staff that if anyone ever bought me a drink they were not to put in any alcohol - I was the driver, after all. I used to drink vodka and bitter lemon - I was, apparently, the only person in the world to drink that particular concoction back in the 1970s.
Some nights I made more from the bought drinks than my fee.
One barman thought it would get him a big tip if he got me drunk enough to go home with one flash fellow - that didn't end well for him - but anyway - when eating a low carb diet, be prepared for alcohol to hit far more heavily than you are used to.
 
Blackheath_Teahut said:
Hi,
I have just been diagnosed as type 2 Diabetic and was put on Metformin (1 with a meal this week, two next week).

I have a very active social life. I love to drink. Not every day, but every other. I drink mainly wine, or vodka and diet tonic.

I don't get slurry drunk or anything like that but I do drink a lot more than advised.

I am looking for something other than the advice "stop drinking" because I don't want that. That said, I have just stopped drinking for a month because two nights ago while drinking (a lot, cocktails, wine), my lips began pinging away like an electric current was ripping through them, my vision went wild for a moment or two and all was not well. So that shocked me enough to take this medication very seriously and googling it, discovered Hypoglycemia. Lesson learned.

My question is, what is the best alcohol to drink in February?

Huge thank you.
Click to expand...
Have you been tested for fatty liver disease? You might want to get it checked, as the non-alcoholic kind often goes with the T2 diagnosis. You don't want to botch your liver if it's already vulnerable at the mo. Eating low carb would be the "fix" for T2 and (non-alcoholic) fatty liver disease, both of which fall under the Metabolic Syndrome umbrella. Cut carbs, help blood sugars and in case it's needed, your liver, and you wouldn't need metformin anymore, so you'd avoid possible nasty side effects of ingesting the alcohol/metformin combo. Keeping dry in january's not a bad idea until you get diet etc sorted. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ may help with diet, and when you're getting back to the pub, this may too: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/alcohol

All in all, wodka's probably still on the menu. Cheers!
 
Dry red wine and clear spirits tend to be the safest bet. Bacardi and coke zero- that sort of thing. Whisky is also fine. Dry whites are ok, but not port or liqueurs obviously. Tequila lowers my blood sugar notably. Do note though, one under-rated problem with alcohol is it can really put your cholesterol up- I took a break from drinking for a few months to get some blood-work done, and the difference in my blood pressure and triglycerides was astonishing!
 
mymuk said:
Two Metformin a day here. I've never been much of a drinker, though I really like a good pint in a good pub... Covid and the carbs in ale put paid to that - but I have acquired a very enjoyable single malt whisky habit since diagnosis in March.

Whisky and cheese, a superb combination (and carb free). I have two or three drams two or three times a week with a good cheddar or manchego.
Click to expand...
I need no encouragement when it comes to cheese.
 
JoKalsbeek said:
Have you been tested for fatty liver disease? You might want to get it checked, as the non-alcoholic kind often goes with the T2 diagnosis. You don't want to botch your liver if it's already vulnerable at the mo. Eating low carb would be the "fix" for T2 and (non-alcoholic) fatty liver disease, both of which fall under the Metabolic Syndrome umbrella. Cut carbs, help blood sugars and in case it's needed, your liver, and you wouldn't need metformin anymore, so you'd avoid possible nasty side effects of ingesting the alcohol/metformin combo. Keeping dry in january's not a bad idea until you get diet etc sorted. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ may help with diet, and when you're getting back to the pub, this may too: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/alcohol

All in all, wodka's probably still on the menu. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Having the scan on the 15th.
 
Back
Top