Living with Diabetes

Alcohol and drugs can have an immediate effect on blood glucose (BG) levels.  They can affect a person's awareness of a low BG as well as her ability to treat a low BG.  Often people who have consumed alcohol say the feeling is similar to a low BG - making it hard to tell the difference and making it very dangerous.

Here are some tips to help you and your child be prepared for situations where she’s offered alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.

These tips should also be helpful as your child transitions into adulthood when it becomes legal to drink (age 21) or is frequently around others who do (i.e., at college).

• Ask your D-team to discuss the affects of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs on diabetes with your teen.
• Ask your teen about their conversation with the D-team. Be sure they understand what happens when a person with diabetes drinks alcohol, or uses tobacco or drugs.
• Discuss peer pressure. Share ways you handled these kinds of issues as a teen.
• Listen closely and try not to sound like you’re nagging.
• Remind your teen to always have her D-supplies and wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace.

When offered an alcoholic drink or cigarettes, here are some ways your teen can politely decline.

• No thanks - I'm cool!
• No thanks – I’m the designated driver!
• No thanks – I have diabetes and if I drink or smoke, it can make me really sick. I’d rather be here the whole night and have a good time than have to leave early!