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an occasional drink

A

AVOCET

Newbie
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4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have never been a drinker but 4 years ago at the age of 65(now 69) my wife and I moved from Kent to live in Warsop Notts.
We had lived all our lives in the same town and now had to make new friends. I started to play snooker a couple of times a week and I chose to drink a couple of pints of John Smiths on each night. Now for the past three months I have been diagnosed as
type 2 (I am not blaming the beer for that) Now I have been keeping an eye on what I eat and drink and have lost about 1 and half stone in weight. I have had a heart problem since I was 25 years of age
I am now only drinking diet cola when out but can't stand the taste of it. Can I go back onto the beer again or would I do better to leave the beer alone. Remember as I said I have never been a drinker, so what else can I order at the bar that does not contain a lot of sugar?
 
a pint of John Smiths contains around 10g of carbs (according to MyFitnessPal) which isn't necessarily too bad if you only have a couple and you don't react badly: are you testing your blood sugar? If so, I'd say test before you go out and when you get back after a couple of pints and see what it does to your levels
 
Thank you for your reply. I have been told that as I'm type 2 and on Metformin 2x500 a day that I shouldn't self test although before being told not to test I purchased all the test equipment needed as my doctor wouldn't supply them for me
 
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I'm type 2 and also take Metformin 2x500 a day. Some doctors will tell you not to test (or you don't need to test because you have no risk of hypos on metformin), but I prefer to know what's happening with my diabetes and the best way to do that is to test.
I also self-fund but find it money well spent because I know what I can and can't eat based on my testing and feel in control of my diabetes rather than the other way round :)
 
We are all told not to test (Type 2s on diet or Metformin that is). Our advice is simple. Ignore your doctor, and if you don't test, test, test, it may be at your peril!

Have a read of all the success stories on here, look at the results in people's signatures. Not one could have done that without testing. It is the only way to learn which foods and drinks your unique body can cope with. Test before you eat and a couple of hours after first bite. Look at the rise. Anything above 2mmol/l (preferably 1.5mmol/l) and that meal needs tweaking either by reducing the portion sizes of the carbs or eliminating them. Keep a food diary, record your levels alongside, and patterns will emerge. You will learn this way. There is no other way to learn I'm afraid.

I'm not a beer drinker, but I love my red wine, and that is fine for us diabetics, also spirits with sugar-free mixers or water.
 
I'm not even diabetic, but I test 5 times a day because I want to know what's happening, and to stop myself from progressing to diabetes, if at all possible. My GP also told me there's no need for me to test, but - I work on the basis that what he doesn't know, won't hurt him (or her). One thing's for sure - if you have the equipment and it's sitting in a drawer somewhere, then it's definitely not doing you any good. So you might as well put it to some use. But, your decision of course.
 
Your doctor can only advise you It's up to you if you follow that advise or not. I test because I believe it's in my best interest to do so. I also believe it would be in your best interest for to do so.
 
I have 2 drinks a night. Before and with dinner. ( occasionally an extra. SSHHH) I either drink red wine or vodka, tequila, rum, bourbon. Akways with just water and a lemon squeeze. Red wine lowers me but distilled liquor lowers me more, especially on an empty stomach.
When I was type 2 I was told to have a drink with dinner to keep castings low. I liked that tool in my tool belt but if course it's all up to you.

I agree with taking things into your own hands and testing. Then there's no questions
 
Non-alcoholic: usually lime and soda, either with a squeeze of fresh lime or a small dash of lime cordial; or just soda water; or fizzy water; or tea; or coffee.
Alcoholic: red wine; white wine; vodka, lime (fresh or small dash) and soda.
 
My partner likes whisky and the doctor actually said to him "A couple of whiskies won't do you any harm". Only have diet mixers with it though, unless you like it neat. I think most spirits are okay. I have also had diet tonic water or diet American ginger with ice as that looks like a " proper" drink and keeps well-meaning friends off your back about having a "proper" drink.
 
I would like to thank everyone for replying to my question. I will start testing as you all think it best check for myself. When you are told that you are type 2, you start trying to cut out all sugar from your diet and being told not to check just makes you worry about your blood/sugar level and wondering where it has got to. Thank you all.
 
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