If you enjoy a drink, you have probably already noticed that alcohol and hypos go together.

Why alcohol and hypos go together

There are some obvious reasons why alcohol seems to lead to hypos; for example, having so much fun you forget to eat. But to make matters worse, alcohol can shut down the natural, protective mechanism your body has for raising your blood glucose.

Normally when you don't eat, your liver helps to keep your blood glucose levels steady by making glucose from glycogen. But when you drink, your liver is so busy dealing with the alcohol, it shuts down glucose production. So that's one important line of defence against hypoglycaemia you can't count on.

Here are a few tips for safer drinking:

• Food and drink go together
  Protect yourself from hypos by never drinking on an empty stomach
• Party with a friend
  The symptoms of a hypo and the symptoms of being drunk are unfortunately very similar. So try to ensure you have a friend or partner with you who knows about your diabetes and what to do for a hypo
• Know what you're drinking
  You may already have a good idea of how much you can drink safely but it can be easy to get taken by surprise. So, keep an eye on what's being served. To be on the safe side, assume that any drink poured at home or at a party is likely to be at least twice as strong as a pub measure
• Watch out for unexpected exercise
  While you are having fun it's easy to exercise without realising it, for example when you are dancing, so always keep a little something in your pocket or handbag - a small pack of biscuits or some glucose sweets - just in case
• Before you go to bed
  Back home and exhausted, it's tempting to simply fall into bed. Unfortunately it's just as easy to slip into a hypo during your sleep. So if you've been out for a few drinks, a starchy bedtime snack is essential