COCKTAILS!

[SamElliott1997]

Before my diagnosis, I used to be a huge fan of cocktails. What can I do now though? At Wetherspoons, they don't have any indication of carbohydrates in their drinks, just calories!? How am I supposed to estimate with such a variety of cocktails? I barely drink alcohol and I like to treat myself to cocktails.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

@SamElliott1997 it's Fat Secret to your rescue mate, they have a complete list of cocktails.

https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/food/cocktails/carbohydrate

 

[SamElliott1997]

@SamElliott1997 it's Fat Secret to your rescue mate, they have a complete list of cocktails.

https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/food/cocktails/carbohydrate

****, that's handy! Thank you.

Also, I've discovered that a gram of carbohydrates provides 4 calories. So in a sugary drink that is mainly consisting of carbs, check the menu, divide by four, and voila!

 

[lovinglife]

Be very careful lots of cocktails these days have very unnecessary sugar syrups added - especially the new invented ones! And the traditional ones that never ever had it in the first place! It's down to the fashion of everyone wanted cocktails so they appeal to the masses by making them sweeter.

I always ask what they contain and if they can leave the sugar syrup out - a bar I was in last week even had sugar syrup in a whisky sour??? - generic lists of what's in a cocktail can be helpful but don't take it as your bible

 

[SamElliott1997]

The problem is, the sugary cocktails are the ones I used to drink. I don't really drink any of the old fashioned cocktails, I drink the more modern, sweet ones. Woo Woo, Blue Lagoon, Purple Rain etc...

Any info on how to tackle these?

 

[lovinglife]

I don't want to give the wrong advice as I'm T2 not T1 but I think they would be best avoided or an occasional one - or if you regularly frequent a certain cocktail bar have a chat with the bar tender see if they can get some of the sugar free syrups in - I like an espresso martini or a dirty martini but if you like the sweeter ones then those probably aren't for you - sorry

 

[TheBigNewt]

Light beer (Miller Light, Coors Light), red wine are OK won't raise your BS, they may lower it a tad. Guiness will raise it though as will all the other "regular" craft beers. White wine is OK too.

 

[Dark Horse]

****, that's handy! Thank you.

Also, I've discovered that a gram of carbohydrates provides 4 calories. So in a sugary drink that is mainly consisting of carbs, check the menu, divide by four, and voila!

Slightly more complicated than that - you have to factor in the alcohol which provides 7 kcals (Cals) per gram. For example, in a cocktail which has 1 unit of alcohol (8g), 56 kcals (Cals) will come from the alcohol. Could you try contacting Wetherspoons to ask them if they can give you a carb count?

 

[SamElliott1997]

Slightly more complicated than that - you have to factor in the alcohol which provides 7 kcals (Cals) per gram. For example, in a cocktail which has 1 unit of alcohol (8g), 56 kcals (Cals) will come from the alcohol. Could you try contacting Wetherspoons to ask them if they can give you a carb count?

I've tried tweeting them yesterday but they haven't tweeted me back. Don't think they will, or at least not until working days return. The Twitter account is tweeting, but doesn't seem to be replying to anyone

 

[phdiabetic]

If you are going to be having cocktails frequently, I advise you to stick to just one type until you learn how it affects you and can bolus safely for it. This will probably take multiple attempts. Check your blood sugars frequently for the next couple of hours after you have it. Then you can experiment with other flavours. Also, have a small amount at first since you're not sure how the alcohol will affect you.