If you’re having an alcoholic bever-
age, factor that into your carb count.
On average, beer, light beer, wine,
and hard liquor have 13, 6, 4, and
0 grams of carbs, respectively, per
serving, although the amount of
carbs in beer varies by style. Most
mixed drinks are packed with sugar,
so check the Nutrition Facts label
for carb amounts in any mixers.
Remember, imbibing on an
empty stomach, drinking in excess,
or drinking without having eaten
enough carb-containing foods can
lead to low blood sugar levels—and
the risk can last for 24 hours. Alco-
hol is also a diuretic, so be sure to
drink plenty of water if you choose
to imbibe. Mix hard liquor with club
soda or dilute wine by making a
spritzer (half wine, half flavored selt-
zer), suggests Palinski-Wade.
Sip
Smart
Summer Slips
Watch out for these common
warm-weather missteps, say
the experts:
TOO MUCH WATER-
MELON “I warn patients
about watermelon all the
time,” says O’Malley. “While
it’s healthy, it also contains
a lot of sugar, so you have to
eat it in moderation.” The
standard serving—1 small
(1-inch-thick) slice or 1 cup
of diced watermelon—has 12
grams of carbs.
THE VACATION TRAP
“One patient who went to
Disney World was blown
away by how much higher
his sugars were, because it
can be harder to count carbs
while away,” says O’Malley.
There are so many hidden
carbs, she says—especially at
all-inclusive resorts—so be
extra-careful about monitor-
ing your blood sugar.
COOKED INSULIN “I had
one patient who was sailing
and kept her insulin in a
backpack on the deck in the
sun,” Soper says. “Her blood
sugar was running high and
she couldn’t figure out why.
The next day, she opened a
new bottle of insulin and her
blood sugar went back to
baseline.” The lesson: If you
and your meds have been out
in the sun all day and your
numbers are up, consider
opening up a new bottle of
insulin or changing your infu-
sion set reservoir if you’re on
an insulin pump.
60 DI ABETIC LI VING / S UMMER 2 019
SHERI GIBLIN / OFFSET.COM (DRINKS); AKEPONG SRICHAICHANA / EYEEM / GETTY IMAGES
