Before drinking alcohol

As someone living with diabetes, before drinking alcohol it is a good idea to do the following:

• Eat food beforehand; this will help to avoid hypoglycaemia.
• Consider the type of alcohol you consume and drink slowly; avoid sugary drinks and be conscious of what you are drinking with the alcohol; it will affect how your body absorbs glucose.
• Carry a medical ID; that shows you are diabetic and do not drink alone. If someone has low blood sugar or ketoacidosis, it may look like they are unstable or neurologically impaired, symptoms which can easily be confused with drunken-ness.
• Talk with your healthcare professional; about the safety of drinking in your case specifically.