alcohol and type 1 - Diabetes Message Board

julio · 05-08-2002, 04:22 PM

I am needing information on alcohol consumption and long term type 1 diabetes. I know a small amount of alcohol is supposed to be good for your heart, but what about 4 or 5 6 0z. glasses of whiskey, each and every night. I've also read that alcohol aggravates diabetic neuropathy. Can anyone provide any more information? Thanks in advance. N

[This message has been edited by julio (edited 05-08-2002).]

saskia99 · 05-09-2002, 10:59 PM

Alcohol is the worse thing to take when you are diabetic...all you have to do is go to a kidney dialysis ward and look for the people with no legs and on dialysis...been there saw it.

mlgable · 05-10-2002, 07:10 AM

Alcohol is not good for a diabetic since it raises the blood sugar. Also if you fail to eat a good snack before going to bed after drinking you could feel pretty lousy in the morning since your blood sugar will fall sharply in the night causing hypoglycemia. Also daily alcohol consumption except for the red wine for antioxidant purposes is not recommended for any one. You can get the benefits of drinking red wine simply by taking a good antioxidant supplement that contains grape seed extract.

julio · 05-10-2002, 09:17 AM

I appreciate this information. I'm also concerned about him mixing the alcohol with the numerous prescription drugs he is taking for blood pressure, neuropathy and pain, to mention a few. I always accompany him to the doctor, however I have not mentioned his drinking. Should I?

deedee2074 · 05-10-2002, 11:41 AM

All I can tell you is that I know a diabetic who liked to party pretty hard. Party he did. At age 31 he is now blind. Think the drinking might have had a hand in this? Diabetics and drinking DO NOT mix. Alchoholism itself is a disease. Put that together with diabetes and you've got a volatile combination. He's got to help himself, but there are steps you can take to show him where he is headed. One of the best things I did was to videotape my friend when he was going into his insulin shock because he was drunk, took his needle and went to sleep. I taped the entire thing up until he was revived by the paramedics. It changed his life.