6. Drink alcohol sensibly
Whilst it’s true that alcohol can be very calorific which may be problematic to you if you’re trying to lose weight, having a few drinks to unwind at home or to have fun with friends is part of normal life for many of us. Having type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to mean missing out at parties and social events.
However, heavy drinking can increase your risk of experiencing a hypo if you have type 2 diabetes as it interferes with blood sugar levels so it’s important to know your own limitations.
For anyone, the guidance is to consume no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, ideally spread over three days with a few alcohol free days. This alcohol unit calculator is a handy tool to use to help.
In terms of which drinks to choose, dry white wine, prosecco and clear spirits tend to be lower in sugar and carbs than beers, lagers and red wines. Opt for sugar free mixers such as diet cola and slimline tonics. Oddly, low sugar beers tend to be higher in alcohol and low alcohol wines tend to be higher in sugar – so that’s something to be mindful of!
Summary:
As a type 2 diabetic, you don’t need to avoid all alcohol if you don’t want to, but you should be mindful of the units, carbs and sugars in each drink you consume.
