Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 9/1/2009

Question
My daughter is on parole and has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was put on insilin right away.For some reason she keeps coming up positive for alcohol in her urine and she does not drink.I can see her having a dilute because the amount of water that they drink if their blood sugars are high,but they have sience put her back in prison for the dirty for alcohol.I have heard something about high blood sugar and the testing being wrong because of this.Is this true?

Answer
Dear Debbie

Diabetes can cause these false urinary readings for alcohol especially if the insulin taken has not been properly calibrated as to her optimum dose yet. The analytical laboratory should know this and do more precise analyses. Her doctor who is treating the diabetes will confirm this.

Reards

Dr Alan Galbraith