34: More on the Nitty-Gritty of Alcohol Use for our T1D Kids

Sweet Talk for Parents of Kids with Type One Diabetes

Parents know that mixing alcohol and type 1 brings extra challenges. Although we’ve tackled this topic before, Dr. Justin Altschuler is back to answer more listener questions about how to navigate the tricky territory of drinking with T1D. And just as a reminder: Not only does Dr. Justin have a private practice that specializes in addiction and T1D, but he serves as the medical director of Diabetes Youth Families (DYF), the organization in the Bay Area that hosts diabetes camp, and has T1D himself.

Some highlights:

• Dancing is a form of exercise, and when paired with drinking, there can be a huge demand on the body overall. The primary concerns are safety and preventing glucose levels from dropping too low.
• Preventing lows can be done by reducing insulin while drinking (and through the night afterward) and also eating more carbs before, during, and after dancing. Better to eat the ice cream, and not worry about highs!
• What happens when a T1D teen is vomiting from drinking? Keeping blood sugars up is the top concern. If someone with type 1 is vomiting or too nauseated to eat or drink, better they should go to the ER to get support than try to manage on their own.

For more on creating a balance with eating for your T1D kids, check out Sweet Talk’s free Sweet Talk Snack Course.

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Need help getting your kid the right snacks?

That's why I've created the Sweet Talk Snack Course. It's a free mini-course to give you 6 snack sized lessons on making sure you're giving your kid the right foods to keep them nourished and their blood sugar in check. Get it at https://diabetessweettalk.com