Some might say that celebrating the holiday season without any booze is just plain wrong.
But what do you do when you have diabetes?
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with indulging in foods and drinks a teensy bit more than you normally would; after all, it is the holidays. However, overindulgence, especially in one setting, might land you in the hospital – the worst place to spend Christmas and New Years.
To help you avoid becoming pissing drunk and get through the holiday season safely, here are five best tips you ought to know.
Monitor your glycemia. A frequent blood check may be warranted during the holidays, especially before driving. Your blood sugar levels will give you an idea of whether you should be treating yourself to something sweet or go slow-mo on your eating marathon.
Eat before you drink. Drinking on an empty stomach allows faster absorption of the alcohol, thus putting you at a greater risk for experiencing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Alcohol keeps the liver busy, preventing him from releasing glucose. Grab a bite before drinking or drink while you eat. For better certainty, monitor your glycemia before, during, and after you drink.
Delayed hypoglycemia. Pills and insulin injections can cause delayed hypoglycemia for up to 24 hours after boozing up. Before hitting the sack, check your blood sugar levels. If your glycemia are swerving below 100 – 140 mg/dL, snack on 15 g of carbohydrates combined with a source of protein (e.g. crackers and cheese, toast and peanut butter). After 15 minutes, check your glycemia again to make sure it is on the right track.
Moderation. Women are advised to drink no more than one drink per day. For men, it’s two drinks per day.* (One drink = 5-oz wine 12%; 12-oz beer 5%; 1.5-oz spirits 40%) Since signs and symptoms of being drunk and hypoglycemia are similar, it is quite easy to mistake one for the other.
Water. To stop you from over-drinking, tag a glass of water alongside your alcoholic drink. Alternate between the two drinks.
*The Canadian Diabetes Association are more tolerant than the American Diabetes Association, allowing up to 2 standard drinks per day for women and 3 standard drinks per day for men.
