Preamble
If you are at this site, we assume you have already thought whether it is good to drink alcohol (we don’t think it is). This website gives information without telling you what to do. This does not mean it is a good idea.
It is strongly recommended that you first discuss with your doctor about taking alcohol.
Alcohol and drugs affect your judgement.
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Make sure people around you know you have diabetes.
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Also wear diabetes identification.
Alcohol
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To strangers, the effects of hypoglycemia and alcohol look similar. This means they are less likely to give you help when needed. Because of this, it is essential that those around you know you have diabetes.
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If you have never had alcohol before, the effects of alcohol are stronger than when your body got used to it. Early on, drink slowly and not too much.
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Alcohol with little or no carbohydrate (e.g. wine, vodka, gin) doesn’t cause a rise in blood glucose.
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Alcohol containing carbohydrate (e.g. beer, cider, alcopops) causes blood glucose to rise and might require insulin to be taken alongside it. Get advice from your diabetes team.
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All types of alcohol, especially in large amounts, increase the risk of delayed hypoglycaemia.
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You may need to take action to prevent delayed hypoglycaemia. This may include reducing your background or basal insulin and/or eating extra carbohydrate.
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You should discuss ways of preventing delayed hypoglycaemia after drinking alcohol with your healthcare team.
Other drugs
There are lots of drugs around. As with alcohol, drugs will not only influence blood glucose values, but also your judgement.
One difference between alcohol and other drugs is that other drugs affect your judgement more quickly and unexpectedly than alcohol.
The same tips as with alcohol apply, but with other drugs you need to be even better prepared. Only medical staff can provide you the information needed and you should ask them. They will provide you with the information you ask for.
One of the problems with other drugs is, however, that they are usually illegal and therefore highly unpredictable. This makes it very difficult to prepare for taking such drugs.