• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Diabetes & alcohol

Re: Diabetes & alcohol

Hi folks, thought I would revive this subject as alcohol is important when mixing socially.

Do you remember about Christmas time when there was a big moan in the media about supermarkets selling canned beer cheaper than coke? Well I just had to buy some the other day because I read the label on the tin.

Tesco 2.1% 440ml tin of bitter contains 3.1g of carbs !! - thats 0.7g per 100ml and only a trace of sugars.

Agreed it is not the best bitter in the world, tastes a bit 'thin' really but you do get used to it. Trouble is you have to decide - 1 slice of toast or 3 cans of beer? Just enjoy.
 
Re: Diabetes & alcohol

I was diagnosed Type 2in April and I've managed to keep my bs within limits. I usually have a whisky before dinner, while I'm cooking, and a glass of red wine with dinner. Honestly, I don't have more than one glass. Anyway, here's my question: as I live 10 minutes from the French border I have built up over the years a fairly good wine cellar, mostly reds. The whites I now drink sparingly but I have some bottles of fairly dry rose wines. How do they stand on the yes/no scale. Should I drink them sparingly as I do the whites or can I drink them like reds? I'd appreciate any advice on this subject. Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Diabetes & alcohol

Hi BillB,

Frankly there aren't many wines which will give you a problem. The sweet whites (Suaternes, Muscat etc.) are a no-no, obviously. I've yet to find a red which gives me a blood sugar problem and believe me, I've looked! Sauvignon Blanc and whites from the Loire, Alsace etc. are normally bone dry and are more likely to lower your blood sugar than raise it.
Personally, I don't drink rose wines, but provided they use the dry grape varieties and production methods they shouldn't be any more of an issue I'd have thought?

Continue the research!

All the best,

fergus
 
Re: Diabetes & alcohol

Many thanks, Fergus, for your advice. I don't normally buy rosé wines but a friend who lives in the Bordeaux region came to visit and brought us a case of his local red and a case of his local rosé. I shall continue drinking it in moderation with an easy conscience.
Cheers.
 
flakey rascal said:
Is anyone still alive after these drinking experiments? How did the Holsten Pils experiment work out for you? Was red wine avtually ok?
Click to expand...
This is a very old thread @flakey rascal, most if not all the members that posted in this thread haven’t been around for years so I don’t think you’ll get a reply. Maybe start your own thread in the “Ask A Question” I’m sure there will be lots of members with opinions this :)
 
lovinglife said:
This is a very old thread @flakey rascal, most if not all the members that posted in this thread haven’t been around for years so I don’t think you’ll get a reply. Maybe start your own thread in the “Ask A Question” I’m sure there will be lots of members with opinions this :)
Click to expand...
Yes, i noticed it was from 2008, so if any were still around, they would have years of experience. I knew Holsten used to be the diabetics choice, but things have moved since.
 
flakey rascal said:
Yes, i noticed it was from 2008, so if any were still around, they would have years of experience. I knew Holsten used to be the diabetics choice, but things have moved since.
Click to expand...
I’ll tag @KennyA for you, I know he has tried lots of good low carb beers, me personally I stick to spirits with diet mixers or just soda or even on their own with lots of ice, I can’t do wine these days as although I’ve never had it checked out I suspect I’m allergic to the sulphites as it gives me palpitations and a shocking headache, one glass with a meal I’m fine but on its own not so much. When I did drink wine I loved couple of glasses of a good red and it didn’t affect my BG in any noticeable way.

Though drinking with a meal may be a way of keeping your liver busy (it will deal with the alcohol first before the carbs) and you may find you have lower numbers than expected, in my experience if I have more carbs than I normally would because I’m having a tipple my finger prick BG will be a point or so higher for the next couple of days. The carbs still have to be dealt with just it happens later & longer for me
 
If you start a new discussion @flakey rascal I will repost my comment, but for now I can tell you I had to stop drinking alcohol as my blood sugars plunge like a stone. The arrow on my CGM goes straight down, regardless of where it starts off and I always go low. If I do dare have a small glass of wine, I drink red wine, I spend the rest of the evening worrying about lows. It’s easier not to drink. I can’t comment on beer as I am unable to tolerate gluten which incorporates both wheat and barley. Now we do have gluten free beer in Canada, and it is surprisingly good, but my blood sugars go high, then drop low. Good luck with your beverage pursuit.
 
flakey rascal said:
Is anyone still alive after these drinking experiments? How did the Holsten Pils experiment work out for you? Was red wine avtually ok?
Click to expand...
Hi

I'm thriving, thanks. I would strongly recommend beers from the Westbrook brewery - and if you search on the forum in the food and drink section you'll find my thread on this, with opinions from a good number of people. Sorry can't link as on phone.

I have no raised bg problems from red or whites, and I do tend to drink to the dry end.

The issue for me is that alcohol will drop my BG quite dramatically to the extent that it's not worth testing around a meal if I've had more than one glass. I think this effect gives a false impression: I've still eaten the carbs and they still have to be dealt with. Getting a manipulated low reading by shutting down your liver isn't recommended by me. And I have had one very bad experience, so do take care if you're starting with a low BG anyway.

Edit - here's the link to the zero carb beer thread: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/zero-carb-beer.192130/
 
Last edited:
Back
Top