013 Diabetes and Alcohol

I thought diabetes and alcohol might be a timely topic with the holidays now upon us. I’m sure most of us will end up at some event, somewhere, with some glass in our hands, just because…it’s the holidays.

I am by no means an expert on diabetes and alcohol – I’m not a nutritionist or doctor so that said, I definitely recommend that you consult yours, but I did want to talk openly about this topic. I’m pretty certain, it will be on your lips a little (or a lot) this holiday season.

In most situations, the holiday norm is to have a couple drinks AND there’s no doubt about it: Christmas and booze go hand in hand. I know that sometimes a glass of wine can be, sort of a “relief” after the annual insanity that started sometime in October. Diabetes and alcohol is worth a few minutes of thought for those of us who live with diabetes.

Though I’ve been living with Type 1 Diabetes for most of my life, diabetes and alcohol still puzzle me. I recently took a look at a resources (see below) for more information on this subject.

From what I gather (and have personally experienced) just  like with fitness, when it comes to diabetes and alcohol, everyone is different! Alcohol can have very different effects depending on things like your sex, your body weight and your percent of body fat. Even what you’ve eaten (or have not eaten), whether you’ve just worked out and things like your current stress level can all be factors on your blood sugar and possible alcohol effects.

I personally face many more risks when drinking alcohol than people without diabetes. This is where I find it gets really interesting: Apparently, our bodies think that alcohol is a toxin and, until the alcohol is completely processed, the liver is so focused on that task that it may not be able to release sufficient amount of glucose into our blood which means… we may end up having a low blood sugar. It’s also possible that our blood sugars might initially increase from the sugar content of the beverage –  then, once our liver starts to process the alcohol, our blood sugars may end up low! This has the potential for a total diabetic catastrophe while drinking, and for several hours after!

Another potential problem while enjoying those holiday bubbles is that we might not feel the symptoms of a low blood sugar and our friends might not notice (because they assume we’ve just had one too many vinos and we’re drunk!). Yikes. SO, I always recommend having a friend present who is aware of our diabetes who is willing to watch out for potential problems. It’s important that this person can recognize what a low blood sugar reaction looks like and how to help.

For me, when I have a beverage, I prefer a nice glass of dry red wine like a Cabernet. It isn’t so full of sugar like many holiday cocktails and I personally don’t need to take any extra insulin for it, whereas I might… if I was to indulge in white wine, dessert wine or beer.

I’m not the type of girl to go out and get wasted at holiday parties. I’m the type of girl who might have a couple glasses of wine while sampling the holiday hors d’oeuvres (mmm!). I’ve learned to pay attention to what my blood sugar is doing and by doing so, I can actually enjoy myself. I know to stay away from the high sugar treats while enjoying healthy carb sources, vegetables and proteins. I’ve learned to enjoy dry red wine vs. sweet white wine, beer or cocktails should I decide to have a drink. I’ve also learned to keep a quick source of sugar in my purse, just in case… because you just never know!

Yield: 8

Low Carb Artichoke Hummus

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb cauliflower
• 14 oz artichoke hearts
• 1/4 cup greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup tahini, sesame paste
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon stevia
• salt
• pepper

Instructions

1. Steam cauliflower (it's easy to use the microwave - add a little water to a glass bowl, add the cauliflower and cover with a damp cloth or paper towel. Microwave until tender). Squeeze as much water as possible from cauliflower and place in food processor.
2. Drain liquid from artichoke hearts and add to the food processor.
3. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.

---

 I found the following resources regarding alcohol and diabetes. If you have questions, please talk with your doctor.

• http://www.joslin.org/info/Diabetes_and_Alcohol.html
• https://dtc.ucsf.edu/living-with-diabetes/diet-and-nutrition/diabetes-alcohol/
• http://guidelines.diabetes.ca/cdacpg/media/documents/patient-resources/alcohol-and-diabetes-feb2014.pdf