Alcohol and living with diabetes | New Health and Fitness

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Diabetes, once under control, doesn?t usually have to mean giving up large parts of your life, but instead adapting them to meet your body?s demands. For example, your diet may have to be controlled more and light exercise is recommended, and equally alcohol doesn?t need to be abandoned completely, just limited to ensure that your body is able to maintain a healthy blood glucose level.

This means sticking to the recommended daily guidelines, which includes not exceeding more than 3 units of alcohol for men and 2 units for women a day. But what does this mean? Well, a pint of beer contains between 2 and 3 units, a large glass of wine (250ml) 3 units, a small glass of wine (175ml) 2.5 units and a single measure (25ml) of a spirit like vodka and whiskey is 1 unit.

It is important for diabetics to stick to these recommended numbers of units because otherwise they run the risk of hypoglycaemia. Medication for diabetes works by lowering the blood?s glucose levels to a safe rate, but if this becomes too low, then the liver releases its own stores of glucose to raise it.

But because alcohol can stop the liver from functioning correctly, should the blood glucose level drop too much, the liver may not be able to release the needed glucose which could lead to hypoglycaemia. And because alcohol can often mask how our bodies are feeling, the warning signs of a hypo may go unnoticed.

So simple steps can be taken for diabetics to enjoy alcohol. Moderating intake as discussed is the best option, and it also recommended that to prevent hypoglycaemia, diabetics eat carbohydrates before they go to bed (toast, cereal, chips etc) as although they may feel alright before sleep, hypoglycaemia can occur up to 16 hours after heavy drinking.

Get advice on counting carbs for diabetics.

Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/02/21/alcohol-and-living-with-diabetes/

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