2: WHAT EFFECT DOES ALCOHOL HAVE ON MY BLOOD GLUCOSE

Alcohol is made by fermenting either sugar or starch. Pure alcohol will not increase your blood glucose level e.g. spirits / dry wine but it is the remaining starch or sugar components and added flavours/mixers which contain sugar that will raise your blood glucose level e.g. beers / lagers / alcopops / sweet wines but blood glucose will drop later. Excess alcohol can lead to a hypo as it reduces your liver's ability to release glucose supplies when your blood glucose levels start to drop. This is even more prominent when you have not eaten as your liver will not have adequate stores of glucose to release.