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Bolus for alcohol

Richard F

Well-Known Member
Messages
284
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
For my sins, I'm a regular drinker, alcohol is a tricky one. I'm not talking about "session" drinking but an evening glass of beer or wine.

Diabetic specialist reckons 1/2 bolus for beer, and none for wine.

I reckon full bolus for beer and wine.

What do you do?
 
Depending on the wine it may not have carbs, also while the liver is dealing with the alcohol of any kind it can cause lows hours later so some require to snack without bolusing so it's something you will have to work out for yourself by testing, I was a big drinker but after being diagnosed it just wasn't worth the risk/effort so I haven't touched any since January 2017 xx
 
I don't bolus for dry red or white wine, I don't drink beer.....

Just be aware that if you hypo at night after drinking alcohol your liver may not be in a position to increase your blood sugar to pull your levels up.

Having said all that, if you're only having a glass or two, your meter will tell you whether you need to count it carb wise.
 
I never bolus for wine. I take less basal at night if I'm drinking wine.
 
i dont bolus at all for alcohol dont really drink beer anymore mostly spirits with a diet mixer but if i do have a beer i dont bolus and i always have a snack b4 bed as i drop overnight after a drink
 
Thanks,

Seems it's only me that finds beer therapeutic.
 
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I try to stay on German beer (Reinheidsgebot, so no sugar allowed) or other pilseners that have no added glucosesirop or sugar in the ingredient list. Mais beer like Corona is also quite lo-carb. Best beers have not more than 3g carbs per 100ml. So that would make about one sandwich (15g) for a pint. I’d say 1 or 2 units per pint. But if you drink ‘session’ like 5 pints, surely do not keep on taking insulin for every pint, as the alcohol might lower your gluco levels after a while. Best to keep checking and beware for a nightly hypo or you can get into a coma.
 
I have a glass of red wine almost every night and never dose for it. The alcohol seems to balance out any carbs.
 
I drink very rarely these days , but really liked a “ scoop” years ago , I never took insulin when I was drinking as initially bloods would rise but later ( normally when in bed asleep) woooosh hypo so learnt alcohol = no bolus for me . And I use to drink Guinness which as we know is quite heavy on carbs , I eventually used the rule that no matter how high the sugar in the drink the alcohol in it always dropped my bs , not saying that is the same for everyone but that’s how it worked for me , it’s diet Irn Bru now so not really a problem lol unless you put vodka in it of course hehehe
 

I’m an expert
although not really on beer. I agree if just a pint, then a full bolus but none for dry white, red and half bolus for sweet white and Prosecco.

I used to do this with alcopops, cocktails, Prosecco and beer. When I’m in Spain I drink beer but with heat I only take insulin for first beer and if only one then half plus they are smaller there. I hate the extra phaff of insulin with alcohol so I now drink gin and used to drink red wine with no bolus insulin at all.

For anyone else reading, doctors, for most of my life, told me to eat tons before bed which i always did to avoid night hypos and reduce basal -which I hear is due to the common night hypos - but they never believed me that I’d always end up very high all night. Thanks to CGM they believe me now and I know that it was not the right advice for me personally.

I now drink alcohol that doesn’t require a bolus, no carbs or reduction but I need to accept its highly likely that hangover time (9-11am) my insulin will be super sensitive for breakfast so then I need to reduce insulin only when I eat and expect hypos around this time.
 
I’m a tequila drinker. Tequila on ice, with extra lime. I don’t need to bolus for it. I need to cut my basal rate because of how it makes me relax. No carbs in tequila.
 


Thx, your experience mirrors mine.

No problem with night time hypos. The morning can be tricky, but only when I've had a major session (rae theses days)
 
I drink red wine regularly and never see it having any affect on my levels but I do know I’m producing some of my own insulin & I take my basal in the mornings.

I gave up cider immediately & although I enjoy a beer it’s not my go to at home.

I think if anyone wants to enjoy a drink they should take a test drive at home like we would with food, that way if you got out (if were ever allowed again) you know how your body is likely to react.
 
I drink mainly whisky with ice so defo no bolus for that. IF I was having some whisky cocktails I may take a small amount if they're sweet.
 
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