My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that makes it difficult for your body to regulate blood sugar levels. Managing diabetes means adopting healthy behaviors and taking medication as directed to stay healthy and prevent complications.
Alcohol and Diabetes
For many people with diabetes, it is OK to drink alcohol in moderation. For others, alcohol may not mix well with medications or may even be harmful. Before drinking alcohol, talk with us about alcohol and your medical history. It may be important to limit or not drink alcohol if:
- Your diabetes is not well controlled.
- Your triglycerides (blood fats) are high.
- You have other health conditions such as nerve damage.
- You take medications that interact with alcohol.
- You have had problems from drinking alcohol in the past.
If you are trying to lose weight, your intake of alcohol may be an area where you can cut calories.
Safety guidelines
If you decide to drink alcohol, we recommend these safety guidelines:
Limit how much you drink. One alcoholic drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
- For women, moderation is 1 drink or less per day.
- For men, moderation is 1 to 2 drinks or less per day.
Eat a meal or snack when you drink alcohol. This helps prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low (hypoglycemia).
Check your blood sugar often. This will help you to learn about alcohol's effect on your blood sugar. If you take insulin or diabetes medication, alcohol can make your blood sugar drop too low (hypoglycemia), especially if you drink on an empty stomach.
Keep in mind that many mixers contain sugar. Try sugar-free mixers instead of regular soda, juices, or mixers containing sugar (carbohydrates).
Be safe. Alcohol can affect your judgment and behavior. Wear medical identification if you take insulin or diabetes medication.
Consider your choices. If you choose to drink alcohol, consider the calories and carbohydrate grams in your beverage.
| Drink | Amount (ounces) | Calories | Carbohydrate (grams) |
| Regular beer | 12 | 150 | 13 |
| Light beer | 12 | 100 | 5 |
| Nonalcoholic beer | 12 | 60 | 12 |
| Dry wine | 4 | 80-90 | 0-2 |
| Nonalcoholic wine | 4 | 25-35 | 6-7 |
| Wine (average) | 4 | 90-100 | 4-5 |
| Champagne or sparkling wine | 4 | 100 | 4 |
| Sweet dessert wine | 2 | 100 | 7 |
| Wine cooler | 12 | 215 | 30 |
| Gin, rum, vodka, brandy, scotch, whiskey | 1.5 | 100-115 | 0 |
| Liqueurs, cordials | 1.5 | 160 | 17 |
| Martini | 2.5 | 156 | 0 |
| Margarita | 8 | 420 | 80 |
| Pina colada | 5 | 290 | 44 |
| Bloody Mary | 5 | 115 | 5 |
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.