Hey,
I am a sophomore in college and I feel like drinking is always involved wherever I go. Not going to lie, I usually partake.. but just wondering what other diabetics in college think and how they handle partying and insulin and whether they partake in drinking or not. And if you do drink, do you limit yourself or not really think about it?
I was dx when I was 6, I've been drinking on a regular basis since I was 14. It's all balancing your blood sugar, insulin in take, understand what happens when you drink this or that, what your body does with alcohol, how your blood sugar is effected by alcohol and knowing yourself.
I'm not saying that I haven't made mistakes while drinking(alcohol-poisioning when I was 16, drug use, passing out) that probably effecting my health and my diabetes, but there's always some trial and error..it's just making sure you end up waking up when you hit an error. I've been lucky enough to usually have close friends around me, who have been able to help me or call someone(like my mom, my big brother or 911) when I need it if I wasn't able to myself.
when I drink, I try to test on a regular basis. I usually try to avoid mixing with regular pop if I can avoid it, though Gin and OJ is my fav drink. If I am mixing with sugary pop and hard alcohol, I usually take about half of what I would normally take for the pop. I feel it's better to be a little high going to bed, then be low..as you're likely to wake up low anyways.
If my blood sugar is high when I want to start drinking, I always do a correction dose and either drink diet pop with the alcohol until it comes down, or wait until it comes down(depends on how high I am..if I'm really high, I wait. If I'm like 10-13, I'll just drink diet pop with the alcohol).
My "College" aka a year in Private Community College, consisted of working 6-7days a week(two part-time jobs) and going to class for 4hours 5days a week, and partying with my friends at the bar 3-4nights a week. While I wasn't having the best control due to not being able to eat right, stress, and not sleeping well, I hardly put the sole blame on the booze I drank.
I don't drink as much now just because I don't go out as often, but I still drink about 3 times a week, even if it's just a couple beers at dinner or a mixed gin drink before bed to help me sleep. =)
I enjoyed drinking alcohol when I was in college and I still enjoy drinking alcohol but I do so in moderation.
I drink heavy, dark beers full of carbs and I take insulin to cover those carbs.
I am careful to test my blood sugar more frequently when I am drinking, knowing that when my liver is metabolizing alcohol it does not produce glucose and so I am at increased risk of low blood sugar. Be careful if you are doing shots of hard liquor (few/no carbs) and dancing on tables as you are at very high risk of going low. If you pass out from low sugar your friends might just think that you are drunk and not call for the help that you need for your low sugar.
Study hard and cheers!
My college days are sadly over, but in my younger drinking age I found it crucial to have my friends know the difference between drunk and low or both [bad combo]. This is a do or die situation if your blood acts the way mine does with liquor. Beer makes my blood high, wine acts just like water which is a wonderful situation and liquor is pretty much insulin in my world. Just make sure you know which type of alcohol does what to your blood. Try to pick just one of those 3 types and then be aware of the consequences. You just have to be smart, which unfortunately when you're drinking you don't want to be smart. Carry a small snack with you too, just in case!! Have fun, be safe!
hey umm i'm not in college but i talked to this guy in college w/ diabetes and he says that when ppl. offer him a drink he just says diabetic and they back off i also would just remember that it can seriously affect ur sugar and could end u in the ER
katie - anyone can end up in the ER due to alcohol consumption due to being stupid about drinking. as long as we're smart about it, we can drink, just like everyone needs to be somewhat smart when they drink.
kk sorry for posting three times my computer is being kinda screwy right now