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Alcohol - Part of a low BG Strategy??

B

Bluenosesol

Well-Known Member
Messages
446
Location
Solihull, West Midlands
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Dark mornings, intolerance any one with a superiority complex...
Guys

this is a controversial observation and I am aware that insulin dependant diabetics and anyone who is in any danger of hypo incidents must be very very wary of managing any alcohol consumption. In my personal case I manage via diet and exercise and am in no danger of a hypoglycaemic incident and hence this question is targetted at people in a similar situation.
I have noticed for some time that moderate consumption of red wine or gin and slimline tonic has a dramatic effect on my bg levels. Today I am 3 months away from my annual review and have put on some weight so today we went our for my "last" meal before I commence a diet to lose weight (my weight gain is not unmanageable). Well we went to an international buffet and my 2 hour post prandial reading was 8.1. I decided to have a large gin and slimline tonic. One hour later my bg was 4.6!!
One would never expect the medical community to "advise" any diabetic to consume alcohol as a means of controlling one's condition but I believe that it would do no harm and indeed some good to drink "up to" our daily NHS allowance.
I am interested to hear if any of my forum fellows have made similar observations.

All the best - Steve
 
I thought it was well known that alcohol lowers BG levels... :?: I myself never consume alcohol as I'm on medication and I'm still sticking to my theory, don't medicate and drink, no matter what the medication... Now when you are on diet and exercise only then a casual drink shouldn't be that bad as long as you are aware that alcohol can lead to you having a hypo... So in conclusion, don't get carried away and make sure you check your BG and have a snack with you just incase!
 
In my pre-diabetic days I drank far too much red wine, every day . I still could, if I let go. But - since becoming diabetic I've realised that, even pre-diabetic, I was having alcohol-induced nocturnal hypos, waking with a pounding heart and sweating heavily :shock: . So do be careful how much you drink!

Also, I have it in the back of my mind that I've read somewhere that you bg levels can go UP later on, once your liver stops coping with the alcohol and gets back to managing your blood glucose levels. This can happen a couple of days later. I wish I could remember where I saw that - must be all the alcohol! :lol:

I must admit, it's very tempting to have the odd drink to get your levels low for a test. But it's cheating, really. Don't encourage me!

Viv
 
Steve - great post! I'll watch this thread with interest. I did try this myself in the past, drinking Red Wine with meals, with some success. Must admit, I like the idea of G&T, or V&T as a tool to keep BG down.

I'm especially interested to see if alcohol can be used to treat DP. A nice stiff (wa-hey!) drink before bed would be a great way to attempt to keep DP at bay. (Probably help with nodding off, too!)

We should use what is available to us - we shouldn't have to rely on what we can get prescribed. Obviously, some people don't have this option. But for those of us that do have that option, we should be like (mad?) scientists - testing every possible avenue.
 
anybody can be have a hypo experience even a non diabetic regardless of whether or not you take medication.
there is nothing wrong a drink every now then but I would not advocate it as a means of controliing diabetes. everything in moderation.
if you feel that the diet and excercise alone is not working why not speak to your gp about starting medication, metformin is usually the first prescribed drug and it can help with weight loss also.
 
:roll:

Everything in moderation except medication, eh?
 
Hi Bluenosesol and Patch

I'd just be a bit careful with beginning a regime of drinking.

The following factors, in particular, are thought to raise your chances of developing gout:

  • red meat
    alcohol
    male gender
    type 2 diabetes
    high blood pressure


Ed
 
Alcohol definately lowers my BGs, BUT
Several days after no alcohol BG levels go up, it increases my Triglycerides, causes weight gain and gives me hot flushes.
Like Viv I could easily slip back into too much but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Alcohol is so seductive.
**** and blast!
Alison
 
Patch said:
:roll:

Everything in moderation except medication, eh?
Click to expand...


If diet and excercise is not controlling diabetes then medication is the next logical step.
Im not saying everyone should rush to go onto medication but if you need it then take it, quite frankly im happy to take my meformin alongside my reduced carb diet anything that keep my diabetes under control and prevent complications is a good thing.
 
Like most people on here, I have read and read as much as I can about diabetes. I have also listened to doctors and nurses, I have tested in the morning, 2 hours after meals, 3 hours after meals, and Diabetes.co.uk are even suggesting testing 5 hours after a meal! surley by 5 hours you are ready to eat again, no? The simple answer is, there is no answer. No one I have read or listened to have convinced me that they have the answer. If we are to believe, or do everything that is being written or said, we would be testing every minute of the day. So I look after myself by listening to my body. I test in the morning, I don't test after lunch as i more or less eat the same lunch everyday, I test before dinner and 2 hours after. If these results are constant through out the day, week etc I'm happy. I have my KFC at the weekend, and so far it hasn't effected my BG levels, I also have my few beers at the weekend, and again no ill effect on my BG. I go to the gym 3 times a weeks, I don't ever feel tired, my feet are fine, my vision isn't blurry, im on no medication in fact SO FAR I forget half the time that I am diabetic. what I'm really trying to say is. Do what is right for you, and if alcohol in moderation is good for your BG levels then I say go for it.
Sorry for the bit of a rant
 
**** - I'd forgotten about the link between alcohol and trigs.

Shoot.
 
I didn't know about the link between triglycerides and alcohol! Can anyone help, please? Though my trigs are okay now, I want them to stay that way!

Viv
 
Guys,

I am on diet and exercise only. I have no problem with trigs or my bg. I have been in the Hba1c 5% club for over 18 months and my trigs are constantly below 1 despite 7 at diagnosis. My blood pressure was never above my target of 130/80 (typically 115/65), I do not have a significant weight problem so am happy with my personally constructed regime. It is always good to have a variety of tools in the old toolbox and hence was encouraging a debate on the occasional or regular use of alcohol as a means of helping to suppress bg. I have drunk since diagnosis, so it does not negatively affect my control.

The NHS recommends a maximum intake of 3 to 4 units per day for a man. This equates to a triple gin (75mls) or a 225mls glass of 13% wine if you stick to 3 units.

PS I have had gout for at least 3 years prior to diagnosis, but no attacks since diagnosis!!

All the best - Steve
 
How did you get your trigs down to 1 from 7? That's pretty **** impressive!
 
Whilst a moderate amount of alcohol might help certain people with Bg levels it isn't really recommended to have too much as it can also (as one member pointed out) increase BP levels.

It also increases the fat in your Liver, which is a bad thing, which can lead to elevated Triglyceride levels and also may lead to non-alcoholic or alcoholic fatty liver disease.

There is far more to consider than just the effect on your Bg levels.........
 
Patch said:
How did you get your trigs down to 1 from 7? That's pretty **** impressive!
Click to expand...
Hi Patch, I was advised by my DN that the biggest contributor was lowering my hba1c from 10+ to 5+, also lost 5 stone in weight, ate lots of oily fish and daily Omega3 supplement plus exercise.
My entire management regime is based on "educated" trial and error, so doing so many things, diet, supplements, exercise, its always hard to know what is fruitless and what is "doing the job"!

All the best - Steve
 
Impressive stuff. Well done, Steve. Now that I'm back VLC'ing, I'm expecting my next HbA1c to be way down on my previous 8.5%. Hoping that my trigs will also come down to <5 (has been up over 10!)

Still need to lose weight, though. 238lb at 6'2" - I'd love to drop 28lbs. That's getting real hard now that I'm on Gliclazide and Insulatard.
 

Great rant Eastman, well said. For me too there has to be a happy medium of doing what's best for your body and doing what's best for your soul. If not drinking another drop of booze means you get to live an extra 10 years but the flip side means not socialising with a certain group of friends then you have a choice to make. Just make sure you are completely happy with your choice and don't let anyone else convince you otherwise. I truely believe worrying about what choices you make will put you in the ground faster than the lifestyle choice itself!
 

ABSOLUTELY !!!
 
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