Managing Diabetes and the Holiday Season

The holidays can be difficult for those with diabetes since the usual festivities revolve around food and overindulgence. For most, this means a few extra pounds of weight gain, but for a diabetic, it can be a very serious issue. Here is a list of suggestions to help diabetics enjoy the holidays and keep their diabetes in check at the same time.”

Before you head out to your next Holiday Party, take some steps to ensure you stick to your healthy meal plan.

• Eat a healthy snack beforehand to avoid overeating at the party.
• Inquire about the food being served and how it may fit into your meal plan.
• If heading to a gathering at a friends house offer to bring a nutritious snack or dish for yourself and others.

You don't have to give up all of your holiday favorites if you make healthy choices and limit portion sizes. At a party or holiday gathering, follow these tips to avoid overeating and to choose healthy foods.

Create new and healthy traditions that will not only be good for you, but good for their friends and family as well. A small, early meal could be followed by some physical activity and then a small meal afterwards. Or, having a family, pre-meal toboggan ride before or after the meal can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Physical activity is essential to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels because the body uses the sugar in the blood for fuel. There are a number of possibilities and all of them will help diabetics maintain control of their diabetes.

There are thousands of recipes available that are diabetes-friendly. A good online resource such as diabetesdaily.com has 100's of diabetes friendly recipes and your local library will have some cookbooks available. An extra bonus is that diabetic friendly recipes are good for everyone and keeping you healthy.

Many have heard the saying, “everything in moderation,” and when it comes to enjoying holiday treats, it’s definitely the best way to go, not only for diabetics, but for everyone. Eating smaller portions can help keep people from over-eating more calories than they may need. It also helps keep blood sugar levels from spiking and dropping. When you eat too much, blood sugar levels spikes and if the body can’t use all of the glucose, it then stores it as fat. Eating small portions of food allows people to enjoy the foods they like and keeping the their blood sugars in check.

 
Educating family and friends about diabetes and diet can ensure that when attending holiday gatherings appropriate foods are available for diabetics. This can also allow family and friends to know what signs of trouble to look for in the event that a diabetic experiences a problem.

When indulging in some holiday cheer this season it is recommended to do so on a full stomach and be aware of their blood sugar levels. Always test blood sugar to ensure that it doesn’t drop too low.

Above all else, it’s important know how to control diabetes and don't allow diabetes to control them. The best tip to help diabetics enjoy the holidays is for the diabetic to take care of themselves first. When you feel good, enjoying the holidays can be a piece of cake, as long as that cake is eaten in moderation.