Red wine and blood sugar

wildrose

Active Member
Messages
30
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello everyone. I was diagnosed as prediabetic in Nov 2013. Since then I have tried to control my BS with diet and exercise and have constantly monitored what food does to my BS.

Today is my Friday night and after giving up alcohol for a while I thought I would test what alcohol does to my BS. I bought a bottle of pinot noir and had a glass (150ml) just over an hour ago. Just before this I ate a bag of dry pork scratchings that contained 0 carbs. I have just tested my blood sugars and got a result of 5.1mmol.

Does this seem right? I thought alcohol would spike my blood sugar or at least make it higher than my FBS. I am aware alcohol can decrease BS but thought this would show up on later readings.

Any thoughts?




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Totto

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,831
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
If the wine is dry my experience is the same. Beer spikes me but wine is fine.
 

Totto

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,831
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks Totto.

Do you have the same experience with dry whites?

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Yep, anything dry is fine. For me anyway. Test away.
Actually it happens I use the lowering effect of alcohol now and then when I want something slightly more carby, like roast potatoes.
 

wildrose

Active Member
Messages
30
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Yep, anything dry is fine. For me anyway. Test away.
Actually it happens I use the lowering effect of alcohol now and then when I want something slightly more carby, like roast potatoes.
I was just thinking this. I bought a steak for dinner so that I could test throughout the evening without too many carbs spiking BS but am now thinking a few chips might not hurt.

Does the wine affect you later on?

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Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,215
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I drink red wine with some evening meals. One glass, which holds about 200ml. I find it holds my levels down lower than they might have been without it. Instead of a normal (for me) 2 to 2.4mmol rise it is 1mmol or less, and I test at 1 hour and 2 hours, and if it hasn't dropped by 2hrs I keep testing half hourly till it does. I have never had any adverse reaction. I believe alcohol freezes the liver temporarily, so may well have some effect in reducing spikes. That's my excuse anyway!
 

wildrose

Active Member
Messages
30
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
AndBreathe - applause.

Bluetit1802 - I think you are right. At the 2 hour mark I had no change. Few chips with dinner it is then.

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Totto

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,831
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I was just thinking this. I bought a steak for dinner so that I could test throughout the evening without too many carbs spiking BS but am now thinking a few chips might not hurt.

Does the wine affect you later on?

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Depends on the amount taken. The bg lowering effect stays until all alcohol is cleared from my body.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,215
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
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Depends on the amount taken. The bg lowering effect stays until all alcohol is cleared from my body.

I usually have a glass when I have a few chips with my steak on Saturdays and a few roasties with my roast dinner on a Sunday, so maybe I should be having two glasses! :D
 

Totto

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,831
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
And why France has the lowest obesity rate in Europe. More or less. I blame the wine and the cheese for that. Possibly with some olive oil thrown in.
 

SamJB

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,857
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I can get through a couple of bottles of dry white or red without it affecting my levels...don't know much after the second, cos I'll need to go to bed by that point!