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Kos Diabetes Group: Diabetes & Alcohol Part 2: Diabetes Friendly Bar For Your Holiday Party [1]

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Date: 2022-11-18

Last week in Part 1, I offered some information of the effects of alcohol on glucose levels and some tips for drinking safely. This week I’m offering up a list of low carb drinks and cocktails.

Navigating holiday food can be stressful when you’re living with diabetes, and then there are holiday cocktails on top of that. How many carbs are in a Christmas Mule anyway? Unless you’ve got a background as a bartender, the carb counts of most drinks are anyone’s guess, and it also depends on who’s doing the pouring.

Alcohol consumption (without added carbs) tends to cause low blood sugar and can lead to hypoglycemia if you are not careful. However, the mixers (such as soft drinks and juice) tend to cause blood sugar spikes for people with diabetes. Alcoholic drinks can have as much added sugar as some desserts, so think about what kinds of drinks you are having. It’s best not to choose alcohol mixed with punches or soft drink mixers, such as Pepsi, Sprite, or Coke; daiquiris, margaritas, or sweetened liquors like Kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream. Regular beer and sweet wines are also higher in carbohydrates. These drinks not only add carbohydrates, but excess calories from the added sugars.

When you’re the host, you’re in control, and you can keep your cocktail party diabetes-friendly. Here’s a guide to stocking the bar for your next holiday party so you can keep your blood sugars in balance while you enjoy an adult beverage.

Basics for your at-home, diabetes-friendly bar

When you stock your bar with the following options, you’re sure to please everyone, whether they’re living with diabetes or just trying to stay healthy. Some basics include:

Your favorite dry white wine. White wine is a good choice for those who may have trouble with the increased level of histamines and tannins in red wine. Your favorite spirits. Vodka, bourbon, whiskey – whatever your choice – can be served over ice or mixed with a zero-calorie diet soft drink for a very simple low-carb cocktail. And don’t forget to have a 1.5 oz jigger (the tool that measures out spirits) on hand. Ultralight beer . The options are expanding every day, so do some taste-testing and find one that suits you. For anyone who wants to enjoy the party with minimal preparation: Grisly’s Cosmic Black is a ready-to-drink gourmet cola and bourbon beverage with no carbs.

Here are some other low-carb cocktails recipes

The PB&G (Pepper, Basil & Gin)

Adapted from Nicolette Teo & Joel Blum of LA Spirits Awards

Makes: 1 serving Carbs: 0 grams

Ingredients

Red bell pepper

Fresh basil leaves

Ice

Gin

Club soda or seltzer water

Directions

Thinly slice a small amount of red bell pepper and muddle it in a cocktail shaker with a few fresh basil leaves. Fill the shaker with ice, add a half-ounce of gin* and club soda or seltzer to taste, and shake vigorously for 3 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into a frosted glass and garnish with additional red pepper strips and a sprig of basil.

*For a non-alcoholic cocktail, the authors recommend substituting gin for 2 oz of Damrak VirGin (a Silver medal winner in the 2021 L.A. Spirits Awards).

Low Carb White Russian

Courtesy of Melissa Collins at Perfect Brew

Makes: 1 serving Carbs: 0 grams

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of Torani sugar-free chocolate syrup

3 ounces of heavy cream

¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 ounce chilled brewed espresso

1 ½ ounce of vodka

Directions

Use a cocktail shaker to combine all the ingredients. Add a moderate amount of ice and shake until it is chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and add ice. Serve.

Keto Hot Buttered Rum

From The Hungry Elephant

Not low calorie, but definitely low carb. An indulgent winter treat!

Makes: 6 servings Carbs: 1.5 grams per serving

Ingredients

2/3 cup (150g) butter

1 star of anise

1/2 tsp powdered ginger

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup (45g) brown sugar substitute

1 tbsp sugar free maple syrup

1/2 cup (125ml) water

1/2 cup (125ml) rum or bourbon

Directions

In a deep pot, melt the butter over medium heat along with the star of anise. Stir in the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, maple syrup and brown sugar. Make sure it is mixed thoroughly and then bring it to a simmer. Pour in the water (it will bubble a bit). Simmer for 10 minutes. Add in the bourbon and leave on the heat for an extra 2 minutes. Take off heat and serve!

Low Carb Christmas Mule

Adapted from The Spruce Eats

You didn’t think I’d leave you wondering, did you? This one is a snap.

Makes: 1 serving Carbs: 0 grams

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces pear vodka

4 ounces diet ginger beer

1 cinnamon stick

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the ginger beer gently for a few minutes. It should reach a very low simmer, but not a boil. Pour the vodka into a warmed Irish coffee glass or mug, then top with the warm ginger beer. Drop a cinnamon stick into the glass.

Make sure to go for low sugar options if you feel like having a cocktail. Here are some of the best low carb cocktails.

Martini

You make a martini by mixing gin or vodka with dry vermouth in a 2-to-1 ratio and then garnishing it with an olive or a twist of lemon peel.

Since it doesn’t contain juices or other mixers, it contains 0.2 grams of total carbs in a 4-ounce (120-mL) drink. This makes it a good choice for people with diabetes — provided you drink it in moderation.

Vodka soda

As its name implies, you make a vodka soda by combining vodka and club soda.

As long as you use club soda or seltzer, your drink’s carb count will stay at 0 grams. However, the carb content may rise significantly if you mix vodka with tonic water — which has 32 grams of carbs per 12-ounce can — or a sugar-containing soda. If you’d rather have a flavored version, go for flavored sparkling water instead of flavored vodka, which may contain added syrups.

Bloody Mary

You make a Bloody Mary by mixing vodka and tomato juice with different sauces and spices, depending on the recipe, and typically serve it with a celery stick. People often think of this as a “healthy” cocktail due to its vegetable content. It has a carb count of 7 grams from the tomato juice.

Tomato juice in a Bloody Mary provides lycopene, a pigment in tomatoes that has antioxidant and anti-diabetes properties and may protect people with diabetes from heart disease. If you’re making a Bloody Mary, opt for a variety of tomato juice without added salt to lower its sodium content. A high sodium intake may lead to high blood pressure.

Carb content of alcoholic beverages

Here’s how broad classes of alcoholic beverages break down in carbohydrate content:

Beer

Standard beer: 13 grams of carbs in a 12-oz serving

Light beer: 6 grams of carbs in a 12-oz serving

Ultralight beer: 3 grams of carbs in a 12-oz serving

Wine

Dry wine: 4 grams of carb in a 5-oz serving

Sweet wine: 14 grams of carb in a 5-oz serving

Port: 14 grams of carb in a 2-oz serving

Spirits

Vodka, rum, whisky, and bourbon contain no carbs (though they have approximately 100 calories per 1.5-oz serving).

Remember to drink responsibly and keep track of your glucose level while drinking. Have a buddy with you who can help you in case you have an emergency low.

Next Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. I am unsure if there will be a regular diary that day or not. It may be just a short open thread so folks can talk about their Thanksgiving. I will definitely be back the following week on Dec 2 which is the day before my birthday.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/18/2134909/-Kos-Diabetes-Group-Diabetes-amp-Alcohol-Part-2-Diabetes-Friendly-Bar-For-Your-Holiday-Party

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