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alcohol and readings

R

rolyatluap

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Hi since starting using this site a few years ago its help me sort out my diabetes and the understanding of it fantasically..but then again something else confuses me but I am sure there will be someone here who will answer my query..
In the last year or so I was put onto meteformin due to my type 2 diet condition getting worse and this helped dramatically I got my readings down to 5.6 and lost over 25 kgs and feel great.On the last visit to my docs for 3 monthly tests she suggested because thing were going well to go to one met.per day I tried this for a week but noticed my appetite increased instantly (not sure in mind or tablets used to help) and paniced thinking dont want any weight gain and contacted her to go back onto 2 met /day until I hit target weight but she did warn to self test if I felt light headed etc or low on sugar and put me back on.
the problem is I have had 2 episodes of lightheadness and took reading and they were both around 4.6 but what worried me is I was out on xmas party which was a xmas lunch then I had a fair few pints of my sins..Cider but when I got home I took reading out of curiousity as i was drinking cider so I was expecting them to be really high but to my amazement they were 3.5 .
my confusion is this due to tablets or is type of alcohol the problem?

(i know what you will be thinking dont drink etc but it was a one off christmas party) :oops:
 
Hi, I dont want to answer the question but I do drink dark rum and coke. This drink has the same effect on me. I've heard there are a few drinks that do this.
 
What will alcohol do to you as a diabetic? It depends. Here's the simplest explanation I could come up with ... if you drink beer, fortified wines (like port) or non-diet mixers with spirits, and certain other drinks like alcoholic cider, your BG will initially soar.

However, as your liver cuts in to deal with the alcohol you've consumed, your supplies of glycogen (stored io the liver) cannot be utilised at all - your liver is too busy coping with alcohol. When the alcohol kicks in to give the BG-lowering effect depends on the person, what they've eaten, their alcohol and insulin tolerance levels, body size, activity etc.

The liver is busy doing the work of processing alcohol, and guess what it needs to operate? You guessed it - glucose. So it takes back as much blood glucose as it can to rid the body of the "toxin" (alcohol), and causes a subsequent drop in BG levels.

Moderation is the keyword here.
 
I think one of the worst side effects of large quantities of booze, is the damage it does to your eyes...

Since a vitrectomy for retinopathy, I have cut down to 4/5 drink max over an entire evening on the occassions i go out.

If you want to test the effect, test your blood pressure before you go out, then test it for 2 days after a sesh. Pressure increases so much that eye bleeds and future damage are common.

Vitrectomies are scary. nuff said
 
thanks everyone that explains a few things and I think your right moderation is the key..
thanks nagain and have a great christmas everyone . :D
 
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