
Our March 3rd Question of the week was a question about type 1 and alcohol. Although 66% of respondents chose the correct answer, one third did not. We thought that this was an important topic to discuss further, so we can pass on correct info to people living with diabetes.
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer below: Answer Question
March 3 Question of the week: SZ has type 1 diabetes and uses an insulin pump. SZ wants to celebrate her 21st birthday with friends and asks about drinking alcohol. Which of the following is a correct statement?
Answer Choices:
As shown above, the most common choice was option 3, the second most common answer was option 2, then option 1, and finally option 4.
The majority of participants chose answer 3, the correct answer. However, if you chose a different answer, read more to learn about the relationship between alcohol and glucose.
Option 1 is incorrect – Since the liver is busy breaking down alcohol, it is not able to release glycogen stores after alcohol consumption, which can lead to hypoglycemia (not hyperglycemia). The sugary carb content of mixed drinks can cause a temporary rise in glucose levels and the alcohol can cause delayed hypoglycemia.
Option 2 is also incorrect. While it is a good idea to check glucose 1-2 hours post drink to see evaluate blood glucose levels, giving extra insulin post alcohol consumption can contribute to hypoglycemia.
Option 3 is correct. One serving of alcohol is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1 ounce of spirits.
Finally, Option 4 is incorrect because one serving of white wine affects blood glucose the same as one serving of red wine. Although alcohol lowers blood glucose, it’s good to remember that it is not calorie-free. A glass of wine can provide about 120 k/cals and beer can provide more than 150 k/cals. Plus, alcohol can raise triglycerides and worsen neuropathy. Moderation is key.
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale and keep studying hard! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!
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Our Diabetes Detective Team scans the diabetes news to discover the most relevant info that Diabetes Educators need in their daily practice. We post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
Come join us at our, DiabetesEd Specialist Course in historic Sacramento, CA. Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll leave our live seminar with the latest research plus teaching tools you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.
If you are interested in taking the CDCES exam or are seeking a state of the art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team of expert faculty has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. In addition to informative lectures, we also use group activities and case studies to highlight the essential knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed in diabetes education today!
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]Recently, metformin was in the news regarding a potential risk of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) contamination during medication production. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested Metformin products to evaluate NDMA levels.

In Metformin’s products, NDMA is not listed under the active pharmaceutical ingredients. However, after some testing, the FDA did find “low levels” of NDMA in a few Metformin products (see chart below).
“Most metformin drug products tested showed no detectable levels of NDMA, while others showed low levels of NDMA,” FDA said, noting that the low levels are similar to what one would be exposed to from grilled or smoked meats.
The FDA advises that “patients should continue taking Metformin to keep their diabetes under control. ”
Of the products tested, both Actavis’ Rx Metformin 1000mg ER and Rx Metformin 500mg ER contained trace amounts of NDMA. The FDA explained that these low levels found (at 0.01-0.02 micrograms-mcg/tablet) are akin to exposure to NDMA through grilled or smoked meats. The daily intake limit for NDMA is 0.096 micrograms, which the FDA regards as “reasonably safe for human ingestion based on lifetime exposure.”
So far, the FDA has not recommended Metformin recalls in the US. Though other countries, like Singapore, have recalled a few Metformin products containing NDMA “above the internationally acceptable level.”

Click here to read more. Download Diabetes Medication PocketCards here.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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Our Diabetes Detective Team scans the diabetes news to discover the most relevant info that Diabetes Educators need in their daily practice. We post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
Come join us at our, DiabetesEd Specialist Course in historic Sacramento, CA. Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll leave our live seminar with the latest research plus teaching tools you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.
If you are interested in taking the CDCES exam or are seeking a state of the art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team of expert faculty has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. In addition to informative lectures, we also use group activities and case studies to highlight the essential knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed in diabetes education today!
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]A recent study published by BMJ Journals – Gut indicates that enjoying a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) can promote healthier aging.
The study was conducted over a 12 month period across a large cohort of more than 600 individuals aged 65–79 years, within 5 different European countries (UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, and Poland). The researchers evaluated the differences in the gut microbiota in each individual before and after the year of consuming a MedDiet.
The results indicate that consuming a MedDiet improved cognitive function and the gut microbiome of those in the study.
The positive effects of these alterations showed that there was an increase in fatty acid production and a decrease in “secondary bile acids, p-cresols, ethanol, and carbon dioxide.” These changes were associated with lower frailty and improved cognitive function and an overall decrease in inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-17.
This study shows that changing to a MedDiet can have a positive impact on people as they age.
Read more by clicking here.
Want to learn more about the Mediterranean diet? Click here.
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March is the National Nutrition Month!
To kick things off, Coach Beverly has collected an entire page of plant-based eating resources. This page includes recipes, instructional videos, reading materials, and more!
We hope this list informs and inspires you!
Click here to read more.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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Our Diabetes Detective Team scans the diabetes news to discover the most relevant info that Diabetes Educators need in their daily practice. We post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
Come join us at our, DiabetesEd Specialist Course in historic Sacramento, CA. Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll leave our live seminar with the latest research plus teaching tools you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.
If you are interested in taking the CDCES exam or are seeking a state of the art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team of expert faculty has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. In addition to informative lectures, we also use group activities and case studies to highlight the essential knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed in diabetes education today!
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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