Diabetes Buzz!

IMG 0203

Read [Caroline's post](http://www.act1diabetes.org/2011/11/10/these-vagabond-shoes-are-longing-to-kick-back-with-a-diet-coke-after-the-new-york-city-marathon/) today about her experience training for and running the New York marathon. Hats off to her! I won't be doing any such thing anytime soon. Too much work. I'm too busy writing blog post while buzzed on a [Ti ponche](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QLL07rdAK4), a rum based drink I discovered due to an associate with [Warren Bobrow](http://cocktailwhisperer.com/). My version of the Ti punch involves pouring the rum, lime and simple syrup mixture over coconut juice ice cubes. As my wife said when she first tasted it, "Wow! That's strong!!".

Alcohol has a strange effect on blood glucose. First the sugars or carbohydrates that are often prevalent in alcohol cause a spike in blood glucose. I can try to adjust my insulin to account for that but it's hard to judge just how much cargo is in beer or a shot of tequila (or rum). That's not printed anywhere on the bottle and I can't seem to find the information online either. Alcohol can cause hypoglycemia and the symptoms are similar — sleepiness, dizziness, and disorientation.

So the drinking alcohol with diabetes things sound pretty dangerous. I could see it now. Go out to dinner, have a few drinks before the food arrives. In that situation I could see myself bolusing incorrectly because my thinking is impaired. Too much insulin and an hour later I've felt "buzzed" and behave erratically. My friend thinks I'm drink but really I just a bit of sugar. Scary shit right?!

That doesn't mean I don't drink. I love beer and I love my rum punch. t simply means I don't drink alone and I avoid overdoing it. Oh, just in case — wear a medical ID bracelet. Alright, time to make a new punch and oh yeah ... do another [blood glucose test](http://www.bigbluetest.org/).

Woven from history

All This Rum! A New Tiki Bar Cocktail (Williams-Sonoma Taste)

This post comes to us courtesy of writer and mixologist Warren Bobrow.

Ever since I sat as a Rum Judge at the 2010 Ministry of Rum tasting competition in San Francisco, the whole direction of my spirits-writing career has changed. I used to only write about wine.

Then a flash went off: wine ...

This man, Warren Bobrow knows what he is talking about.

Rum is a spirit woven from history. Flavors exist within rums that don’t reveal themselves in other lighter-coloured liquors. I’m a fan of rums aged in used wooden casks that formerly held bourbon or cognac. The caramelized notes of smoke, butter and bittersweet chocolate reveal themselves beautifully with the white flower aromas of freshly crushed cane sugar.

I'm from the Anglophone Caribbean. I grew up with rum shops and run ponche. My grandfather owned one of these rum shops where hard-working fishermen would gather at the end of the day to socialize and play dominoes. It's the West Indian version of a sports bar.

I had forgotten about rum until Warren re-introduced me to it. Over the summer I've been experimenting with various cocktails including the mojito and the ti punch. To ensure I did things right I ordered – and grew – Cuban mojito mint from Florida. I don't know if I've been sold a bill of goods but the mojitos are delicious.

Thanks, Warren.