Clair Naughton outlines the issues of alcohol use in those with diabetes and discusses the potential risks of hypoglycaemia and how to avoid them

Enjoying a drink is part of Irish culture, birthdays, weddings, funerals or celebrating the start of the weekend. Irish people find many good reasons to enjoy a drink. So, is drinking alcohol off limits for people with diabetes? The happy answer to that question is no. The majority of people with diabetes can continue to enjoy drinking alcohol, but they do need to be aware of the effect that alcohol may have on their blood glucose levels in order that they can drink safely.