Well, Type I Diabetes, as I'm sure you know, is a condition in which the body does not produce any insulin so blood sugar levels are typically higher than normal if not under tight control. For your friend, the drinking is actually far more dangerous than the cocaine is. (And I'm not saying that the cocaine is safe).
Mixed drinks are typically made with very sugary "mixers" which cause an immediate rise in blood sugar. Beers will also contain unprocessed sugars which will raise blood sugar levels. In addition, the liver processes alcohol into sugar amongst other things. While processing alcohol, the liver cannot produce sugar that it typically does and that the Diabetic person is accostomed to. Therefore, hours after they have stopped drinking the basal insulin level that they inject will wind up being far too much and their blood sugar level will drop to the point that they could wind up in a coma.
How do I know all this? I too am a Type I Diabetic and had to learn the hard way how alcohol can be dangerous. I nearly lost my life on multiple occasions because I wasn't thinking about the future. Now I don't use cocaine, but I do know a good deal about the compound.
Cocaine is a CNS stimulant. It causes constriction of blood vessels, and increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and a "euphoric" feeling for the user. In addition, when consumed alongside alcohol, the liver metabolizes it into a compound (cocaethylene) which is just as active as Cocaine is if not more! So the user has a longer "rush" and a more intense one, albeit at a greater risk of complications.
For a diabetic, the cardiovascular system is constantly being "damaged" by the higher blood sugar levels. This causes heart problems later in life, and kidney damage which is typically what kills a Type I Diabetic. Cocaine further attacks these systems and organs by raising blood pressure and constricting blood vessels. Kidney damage can be intensified through the use of cocaine and the results of this damage may not be noticed until much later in life.
I hope this information is helpful and will help your friend make better decisions with his life. Just remember, he's the only one who can make the final decision with his life. Try not to pressure him too much. |
