Can I get you a beer?

When you are going out with your friends, or if you are going to a party, often alcohol is available. It is not easy to say no when you really want to join the rest of the group. But is it possible to combine diabetes and alcohol? How much can you drink, and what happens to your blood sugar level?

Alcohol and your blood sugar

Alcohol contains carbohydrates. Carbohydrates cause your blood sugar to rise. Because your liver cannot produce glucose in a normal way, your blood sugar level will also drop rapidly. So, if you drink too much, you can get an hypo, especially when you do not have much in your stomach. So, do not drink too much. Of course, it differs per person what is “too much”, but it is always good to eat something especially when you have drunk too much. If you did drink alcohol, check your blood glucose before going to bed, and definitely eat something.

Poor liver

As you might know, the liver breaks down alcohol. The liver also stores spare glucose. When your glucose level is too low, your liver sends extra glucose into your bloodstream. But if you have had alcohol, this process is stopped, which increases the chance of a hypo. The more alcohol you have drunk, the more time it takes for the liver to break up the alcohol in your body. This makes it impossible for your liver to produce glucose. That is why you run the risk of a hypo during the night, and even the following day.

Why is it so dangerous to get drunk?

When you are drunk, you can lose control. Sometimes, you do not even feel a hypo coming on. That is perhaps a more important cause for a hypo than a liver that cannot deal with it anymore.

Consult

Do you have a party and do you think it might get really late? Do you want to take an injection at another time? Talk about it with your parents, and consult if necessary the diabetes consultant or your GP. Perhaps the insulin dose can be adapted. And if possible, do not go home by yourself, or do not sleep alone when you have drunk too much.