A splash of Pimms? A can of lager? A white wine spritzer? Whatever your tipple it is good to know the facts about alcohol and diabetes. Here are a few snippets of information and a webpage if you want to find out more.
- Alcohol contains calories that can contribute to weight gain
- Alcohol can make hypoglycaemia more likely if you take insulin or medicines such as Gliclazide
- Hypoglycaemia caused by alcohol can happen up to 24 hours after drinking
- Lots of alcoholic drinks also have sugar in them
Diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t have a drink, it just gives a few extra things to consider. If you drink and are struggling with your diabetes control it could be worth seeing a healthcare professional such as a dietitian to find some ways of keeping things more balanced.