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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.

“An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.” Ernest Hemingway

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.

We’re all Different

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.

What I do

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.

If I’m going to partake in some holiday bubbles, it’s also very important that I plan ahead to reduce the risk hypoglycemia. I never drink on an empty stomach and I always enjoy some sort of carb in advance. When I get home, I check my blood sugar while recognizing that my body is still processing the alcohol. I also make sure to check my blood sugar while I’m out to get a read on how I’m doing; this can save me a lifetime of potential dia-berrassment and most importantly, my health.

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!

A Yummy Food Pairing!

What’s your favorite holiday hors d’oeuvres? To me, nothing is better than a nice cheese and vegetable platter — cheese and veggie platters make my carb counting easy… or, if I’m feeling like making low carb dip to accompany a low carb cracker or pita, my artichoke hummus recipe below is a must.

Even though it tastes like the real thing, it’s made of cauliflower and artichokes! This dip is perfect for diabetic and ketogenic diets and is also gluten and dairy free too. Yeah!

Yield: 8

Low Carb Artichoke Hummus

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

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.
Drain liquid from artichoke hearts and add to the food processor.
Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.