If you live with T1D and are choosing to consume drugs, please check in with your diabetes care team and have support in place. This is not medical advice.
Make sure you reading the Partying with T1D Introduction to set the scene.
This section is an honest, experience-based look at how various substances may affect people living with T1D, physically, emotionally, and physiologically, in the context of partying. It is not a recommendation or an endorsement of using these substances, nor is it medical or clinical advice.
One key theme?
The inverted U-curve: a little may be pleasant; too much can be overwhelming or dangerous.
Let’s walk through them.
Cannabis (THC)
Psychoactive cannabinoid. The main active compound is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) . THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain’s endocannabinoid system, modulating GABA, dopamine, and serotonin pathways. This alters mood, perception, and cognition. Effects vary significantly by strain, potency, route, and individual sensitivity.
Typical dosages
Because cannabis products vary massively in THC content (1–30%+), “dose” is best described by route:
Inhalation (smoked/vaped flower):
Small dose: 1–2 inhalations (≈ 2–5 mg THC) → mild relaxation, altered perception.Moderate dose: 3–6 inhalations (≈ 5–15 mg THC) → stronger euphoria, laughter, appetite increase.Large dose: >15–25 mg THC equivalent (deep inhalations, high-potency flower/concentrates) → intense psychoactive effects, risk of paranoia, panic, impaired coordination.
Edibles (gummies, brownies, drinks):
Small dose: 2.5–5 mg THC.Moderate dose: 5–10 mg THC.Large dose: >10–20+ mg THC (can be overwhelming, especially in naïve users).
Note: Edibles are delayed in onset, longer lasting, and harder to titrate safely.
Half-life: Complex; THC is fat-soluble. Plasma half-life ~1–2 days, but metabolites persist longer (weeks in heavy users).Onset:
Inhaled: within minutes.
Edible: 30–120 minutes.
Peak:
Inhaled: 15–45 minutes.
Edible: 1.5–3 hours.
Total duration:
Inhaled: 2–4 hours.
Edible: 4–8+ hours.
After-effects: Sedation, “hangover,” difficulty concentrating, altered sleep cycles.
T1D considerations:
No direct glucose effect, but the “munchies” can cause post-cannabis highs if insulin isn’t given
Judgement may be impaired, reducing the chance of bolusing
Closed-loop systems may misinterpret unannounced eating
At high doses: paranoia, anxiety, and loss of control
Ketamine (Special K)
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that works primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist , altering glutamate transmission. At recreational doses, it produces dissociation, altered perception of body and environment, and dream-like or out-of-body states. It can be consumed nasally (most common in recreational settings) or orally (less common, slower onset).
Typical dosage
Nasal (insufflated powder/crystal):
Small / light dose: ~15–30 mg → mild dissociation, relaxation, subtle perceptual shifts.Moderate dose: ~30–75 mg → stronger dissociation, floating sensation, distorted vision/hearing, impaired coordination.Large dose: >75–125+ mg → intense dissociation, potential “K-hole” (out-of-body/near-hallucinatory state, loss of mobility).
Oral (mixed into drink):
Small dose: ~40–75 mg → mild sedation, altered perception.Moderate dose: ~75–150 mg → stronger dissociation, impaired movement, dream-like state.Large dose: >150–250+ mg → very heavy dissociation, high risk of nausea/vomiting, loss of body control.
Oral doses are typically ~2–3× higher than nasal doses to achieve similar effects, because oral bioavailability is lower (~20%) compared to nasal (~45–50%).
Half-life: ~2–3 hours.Onset:
Nasal: 5–10 minutes.
Oral: 15–30 minutes.
Peak: 20–60 minutes.Total duration: 45–90 minutes (nasal) to 1.5–2.5 hours (oral).After-effects: Grogginess, impaired balance, mild confusion, sometimes nausea.
T1D considerations:
Not directly glucose-altering
Biggest risk: loss of ability to self-manage – in a k-hole!
May not recognise or treat a hypo while dissociated
Co-use with alcohol increases the risk of not treating a hypo due to dissacositation
Always ensure someone sober knows you have T1D and what to do
Hallucinogens: LSD (Acid) & Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
Classical psychedelics / hallucinogens and selective serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonists, disrupting the default mode network (usual way of thinking and perceiving) and re-routing consciousness through new and novel neural pathways. They shift your entire mode of consciousness, altering how your brain processes perception, self, space, and time.
The result?
Your brain no longer runs along its usual pathways. New connections light up. Old boundaries dissolve. This can feel expansive or frightening. Beautiful or disorienting. For anyone with T1D, this altered mental landscape comes with important considerations around safety, glucose awareness, and self-care.
What to expect:
Intense perceptual shifts in sound, colour, time, and emotion
Sensory cross-over (seeing music, feeling colours)
Euphoria, insight, or existential overwhelm
Altered sense of self “ego dissolution”
Emotional sensitivity or introspection
Risk of panic or confusion at high doses
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
LSD is a classic psychedelic that acts as a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist , profoundly altering perception, thought, and mood. It is active in microgram (µg) amounts, making dose accuracy essential.
Typical dosages (blotter paper)
Small / light dose: ~25–75 µg → mild perceptual shifts, enhanced colours, mood lift.Moderate / common dose: ~75–150 µg → strong visuals, altered thought patterns, time distortion.Large / heavy dose: >150–300+ µg → intense psychedelic experience, ego dissolution, impaired coordination.
LSD is extremely potent; doses can vary depending on blotter strength (often 50–150 µg per tab).
Half-life: ~3–5 hours.Onset: 30–90 minutes.Peak: 3–5 hours.Total duration: 8–12 hours (sometimes longer).After-effects: Fatigue, residual visuals, difficulty sleeping, “afterglow” or sometimes anxiety.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin, found in mushrooms such as Psilocybe cubensis , is converted in the body to psilocin, which primarily acts as a 5-HT2A receptor agonist. Its effects share similarities with LSD but are usually shorter in duration and often described as more ‘natural,’ ‘introspective,’ or ‘earthy’ in character”
Typical dosgaes
Small / light dose: ~0.5–1.5 g dried (~5–10 mg psilocybin) → mood lift, sensory enhancement.Moderate / common dose: ~1.5–3.5 g dried (~10–25 mg psilocybin) → strong visual and cognitive changes, altered sense of self.Large / heavy dose: >3.5–5+ g dried (>25 mg psilocybin) → intense psychedelic experience, ego dissolution, near-complete sensory overwhelm.
Potency varies by species, strain, and preparation.
Half-life: Psilocin ~2–3 hours.Onset: 20–60 minutes (faster on empty stomach).Peak: 1.5–3 hours.Total duration: 4–6 hours.After-effects: Fatigue, emotional sensitivity, occasional nausea, sometimes “afterglow.”
T1D considerations:
These are long-acting substances
May impair all aspects of self-care: checking glucose, eating, bolusing
Risk of forgetting you have diabetes
Hypoglycaemia during a trip can be very hard to treat
Strongly impacted by “set and setting” — environment and mental state
T1D safety points for all these substances
Download the graphic here
Know your source. Home testing kits and weighing your dose reduce risk.Start low and go slow. Set and setting matter. These substances radically change perception. Being in an overstimulating, unfamiliar or unsafe space increases psychological risks.Be mindful of co-administration with alcohol. It amplifies sedation, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of unrecognised or untreated hypoglycaemia.The inverted U-curve is real. The right amount might feel expansive. Too much can feel terrifying or dangerous.After-effects are real. Sleep disruption, emotional sensitivity, and a general “come-down” can linger for a day or more. Plan for this.Safety first. Ensure you have your full diabetes kit, someone knows what you are taking and that you have T1D, and have CGM followers.
I hope you appreciate the honesty and info
John
Other guides
Alcohol
Stimulants (Caffeine, Nicotine, MDMA, Amphetamine)
