T1D and Alcohol

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 Introduction

    Drinking alcohol while being diabetic obviously comes with a risk.  But, as does almost anything else, including eating.  In this post, we will be going over both sides to whether or not alcohol should be consumed while being a diabetic.


It Should Be Avoided

    One side to the argument is that alcohol should be avoided because it makes the blood sugar unpredictable.  Like many other aspects of diabetes, there isn't a fool-proof method that works for everyone.  Alcohol can have different effects for different people.  Personally, alcohol makes my blood sugar drop several hours after I start drinking.  It can be a scary issue because if I'm in a place where I don't have access to carbohydrates or something to eat/drink to raise my blood sugar, then I obviously wouldn't be able to get my blood sugar back up.  I really don't drink often but when I do, I make sure to have plans in place to prevent a situation like that form happening.  But, sometimes proper planning doesn't have time to take place.

It Could Be Worse

    Another side to the argument is that drinking with type 1 diabetes isn't a big deal.  If you are smart about your drinking, you should have the ability to control your blood sugar.  It's like the famous quote, "Drink Responsibly." This is printed on almost every alcohol container I have seen .  Many different aspects are included into "drinking responsibly" including not driving, make sure you know your limits, and managing any health issues.  

Conclusion

    Anything you do in life comes with risk.  This is just another situation where if it is something you want to do, you have to understand the risks that come with it and be prepared for the worst case scenario.  If you are newly 21 and new to drinking, it is my advice to don't go overboard the first time you are "experimenting" with alcohol.  You may not know the effects alcohol has on your body and if you have too much to drink, you may not be able to take care of yourself.



If you have any questions about T1D and alcohol or want more information about my experience, feel free to contact me!  This is done by clicking the "Contact" link at the top of the page and filling out the form. Or you can always leave a comment below!

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