Unplug, take a deep breath, and let yourself relax. Many people turn to a glass of wine, a cigarette, or another legal stimulant to unwind after a busy day. People living with type 1 diabetes do the same - but depending on the choice, extra care may be needed.

All drugs whose possession, consumption and trade are permitted from a certain age are considered legal. These are, for example, over-the-counter medicines, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and all substances that are not on the narcotics list.

Caffeine, nicotine and most drugs have no direct effect on blood sugar. However, if the medication is cough syrup, for example, the blood sugar rises rapidly due to the sugar it contains and must be controlled with insulin for people living with type 1 diabetes. Medication in tablet form has a low intrinsic weight and only causes the blood sugar to rise very slightly, if at all.

The influence of alcohol on blood sugar levels

Pure alcohol contains no carbohydrates and therefore has no direct influence on blood sugar levels. As every body reacts differently to alcohol, the ingredients must be taken into account. For some people living with type 1 diabetes, wine has an effect on blood sugar, for others it does not. The fact is, however, that alcohol puts a strain on the liver. This is because the liver works according to a clear priority rule: it always detoxifies the body first. This is why the liver stops releasing the necessary basic sugar very quickly after drinking alcohol and only breaks down the alcohol.

In a healthy person, the pancreas registers this and stops releasing insulin. In people living with type 1 diabetes, there is a risk here: the basal insulin from the insulin pump is released continuously and is already in the bloodstream. If no sugar - from the liver or from food - is added, hypoglycemia inevitably follows. Although insulin pumps with smart systems stop the supply, this is not enough in the case of alcohol.

People living with type 1 diabetes would do well to inject the appropriate number of carbohydrates for the first two or three drinks, but then stop injecting insulin. If consumption is higher, a starchy snack can counteract hypoglycemia.

Depending on the amount consumed, the alcohol continues to have an effect long into the next day and keeps the liver busy. The amount of insulin required can be greatly reduced up to 24 hours after the last glass. Here, intelligent systems and functions can help to return to a normal state with automatically reduced insulin delivery.

Caution is generally advised when using drugs, even if they are legal. However, it is particularly important for people living with type 1 diabetes to be aware of the substance, its effects and changes in perception and to have someone with them who can help and react in an emergency.