Ive Had diabetes type 1 for a LONG time which is no secret. Under a typical week I might consume a little bit of wine ( 1 glass etc) I’ve always had a drink waited 30 minutes then bolused accordingly. ( why?) I have discovered for me that once I drink alcohol hits my blood stream the immediate effect is a rapid DROP in BSG.
I am wondering if anyone else has come across this?
Do you wait 30 minutes to bolus for your meal + wine rather than bolusing before your meal?
My understanding is that wine is fairly low-carb - e.g. <5 grams for a glass - does one glass have a noticeable impact on your blood sugar levels?
A few of my T1D friends have told me that drinking alcohol during their teenage years was rough & T1D added to the risk. It’s not something I’ve thought a lot about, but our T1D son is in his early teens, so I should educate myself a bit more.
Good Question…( it depend on the situation, if I know I am eating something then I bolus for my meal…I then wait 30 Minutes ( depends on how much protein I ate as to whether it will slow down absorption tor not ) then Bolus for me rouget 15 G of Carbs for the wine. If I am not eating I mark what time I started drinking wine and then soon as 30 minutes tick by I bolus for 15-20 G of carbs. The delays are so I do nt crash out at the start nor do I bounce too high after.
One glass of most wines does have a noticeable impact Granted I I 6’ 4" and 230 pounds.
As a young man I watched over many a diabetic that hit Alcohol hard early…crashed low ( 50’s) and then bounced to 250 or 300 mg/dl. The next day was made worse via dehydration which hit s all of us…the solution to solution is dilution ( drink tons of water= less hangover)
To be honest beer and wine were available at dinner ( only while home) and no car once I could drive…since I was 13 all I had to do was ask my folks…so there was no glory in drinking when a teen. Plus beer tastes like swill to me.
Hi @e1haskidiabetes!
Great question. Alcohol can increase the risk of lows for a number of different reasons. One reason may have to do with your body digesting food at a slower rate with alcohol intake.
That often means the insulin you take for the meal while you are drinking is being digested slower than usual. In general, the insulin could act on your blood glucose levels before the food is breaking down into glucose and therefore, this increases the risk of lows. So it makes sense to delay that bolus you mentioned 
!
Here is a helpful article on Beyond Type One online that was verified by Dr. Marina Basina, MD and clinical associate professor at Stanford University: The Alcohol and Diabetes Guide | Beyond Type 1
Hope this helps!
Best,
Dessi
Yes, alcohol can definitely cause drops in blood sugar for some people, especially with type 1. It can suppress glucose release from the liver, which might explain your rapid lows. You’re smart to bolus carefully maybe try spacing drinks with food or adjusting timing. Anyone else experience the same?
John Pemberton and I just finished recording a podcast episode today on his Glucose Never Lies podcast on Alcohol and T1D! It’ll go live next Monday, but you can also read more on his blog and website here: Alcohol And T1D Lived Experience Guide T1D | GNL
Stay tuned 
Everyone’s a bit different, but mybcommon approach is staying aware of how alcohol can affect my blood sugars. i make sure to eat before or while drinking, keep fast-acting carbs nearby, and check their levels a bit more often throughout the night. I use CGM alerts as a safety net. Moderation and planning ahead seem to make things a lot easier.