DIABETES & ALCOHOL

BETTER BUYS

  • Having a few drinks at home or in the pub is part of everyday life for some people. Having diabetes shouldn’t get in the way of this unless this has been advised against on medical grounds.

  • When you have diabetes, it’s a bit more complicated. You might want to know whether it's safe to drink alcohol, and how much is OK. Please discuss alcohol use with your Doctor or nurse. So, in most cases, you can still drink, but you need to be aware of how it can affect your body and how to manage this. For example, drinking can make you more likely to have a hypo (low blood glucose), because alcohol interferes with your blood sugar levels especially if you take insulin. It can affect your weight too, as there can be a lot of calories in alcoholic drinks.

  •  Alcohol recommendations are 2 or fewer per day for women and 3 or fewer per day for men. One standard drink is 100 ml wine, 30 mls spirits or 300 mls beer. This is less than most glasses will hold. In spirits add diet drinks as mixes, not "ready to drink" premixes that are full of sugar.

  • People with diabetes are advised to monitor blood sugars when drinking and to wear an alert bracelet or similar identification (alerting others of their diabetes in an emergency) because the symptoms of low blood sugar, which is life threatening but quickly treatable, and drunkenness are very similar.

     

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