Metformin & Beer???

Don't know if the brewing end gravity for beers/lager are available on the web. If not get a measuring glass, a hydrometer and a selection of lagers. Open the bottle/tinny pour into measuring glass and drop in the hydrometer. Seek the lager that has a gravity closest to zero. Until you fine the closest to zero drink the contents of the measuring glass. Never waste a drop!

Sugar in the 'goods' is converted to alcohol, the 'goods' start at a high level and reduce throughout the brewing process. For around each 7.2% attenuation from the start gravity one percent alcohol by volume results. The closer the final gravity is to zero, the less residual sugars remain in the brew. That said, not all strong lagers will have low residual sugars e.g. a brew reducing from 30:2 with have around the the same amount of alcohol as a brew reducing from 35:7 but the latter will be a 'sweeter' drink.

Cheers

Hi,Johnnyangel57, this was the 'old style'metformin, my PN says drink in moderation and the stronger the better,a few pints of stella willput you upa point or two but as long as you limit yourself to a sensible number of drinks you can quite happily socialise with you friends without having to be a ' sour lemon' cos you can't join in . i go out once a week have a few pints and no problem at all. obviously,if you get into a session then you will hit problems as alcohol willpush you up initially and drop like a stone if you have too much and therefore possible to hypo although that is more T1 than T2. go out anf enjoy, lol , regards,Mano :lol: :lol:

In general drinking and diabetes don't go together very well at all.

From what I read, the odd glass or two of red wine is the best option and can be beneficial even. Red wine has less carbohydrate than beer and lager and is good from the antioxidant point of view. After having drunk beer, lager and whisky quite heavily in the past red wine is almost the only thing that I drink these days.

I suppose that anything in moderation is the best approach - with the keyword being "moderation".

Best wishes - John

What's the difference between 'the old Metformin'... and how do you know if you have 'the old Metformin'? I don't take the time release on at all. I take 3 tabs a day and that is all.

Any info would be appreciated. On the times I do/would drink, I wouldn't take a pill. This is so rare it's as rare as Christmas for me. One missed pill *rarely* is no big deal according to the nurse, but don't do it very often because your bloods will shoot up.. and don't have too much to drink.. and maybe walk home??

Willowhisper stated, What's the difference between 'the old Metformin'... and how do you know if you have 'the old Metformin'? I don't take the time release on at all. I take 3 tabs a day and that is all.

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First of all there is no such thing as 'old' Metformin, I think that was just a figure of speech mog used ?
The Patient Information Leaflet or the label on the box/bottle will tell you what it actually is.

There are two types of Metformin. The usual type which is normally prescribed, then the MR/SR
Modified or Slow Release which are more usually prescribed when ordinary Metformin is not tolerated. They have a slower release of the active ingredient Metformin Hydrochloride and have exactly the same efficacy.

The usual advice concerning Alcohol is to not drink when taking them. What you and others do is your own choice. I have drunk whilst taking Metformin and many other meds, not a problem providing it was kept in moderation......however recently I went on to a med which I was specifically told do not touch Alcohol. Fine until one night I forgot.....I drank a 330ml bottle of Stella.......about an hour later I was sick, felt dreadful and after a short sleep awoke with what to me felt like a massive hangover.......I shall make sure I stick to the medical advice in future.

i personally dont drink, i think it is try a small amount and see how it affects you, i did know a diabetic from a chat forum who died from drinking while on metformin, he did drink weekly so as already said moderation is the key

Depending on how well controlled your diabetes is, the odd pint of lager is not usually a problem. I am on Metformin (nothing else apart from a blood pressure pill) and have a beer or two several nights a week. What is a problem is that beer is fattening, and losing weight is a better idea than gaining weight. :roll:

I doubt that a few beers everynow and again will be a huge problem infact I was told that by my diabetic nurse. Just be aware of lactic acidosis which you should be anyways if you are on metformin. I was advised that lager contains a large amount of sugars and that ale, bitter etc would be better. Although they will contain a lot of carbs. I believe there are some low carb varieties michelobe rings a bell for some reason...

When i test my blood in the morning it can be 7 to 8 on my blood meter .
If i have 4 or 5 pints the night before its about 4.6 to 5.6 .the morning after
I went for a meal (sunday roast) and had 5 or 6 pints the only problem was i had forgot my tablets .
When i got home latter that day my blood was 5.4
I am on the maximum limit for tablets .Without them my blood has been as high as 20

I have a few beers / glasses of red wine on the weekends and am fine.

Ido check my bloods before I go to bed though and try to est something (as instructed by GP and Nurse).