We’re right in the thick of the holiday party season – one more hurdle for people with diabetes trying to keep their blood sugar in check.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and indulge a little – in moderation.
Meridith Smith, a registered dietician and diabetes program coordinator for Shands Jacksonville, offers seven quick and helpful tips to find the right balance this holiday party season:
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Bring your meter with you
Hospital admissions increase during the holidays for people with dangerously high blood sugar levels. Check your sugar before you leave for a party and bring it along in case you feel it creeping up during the party. And don’t forget to check it when you get home.
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Focus on friends and family, not just the food
The holidays are a time to slow down and catch up with your loved ones. Make the celebration about them, not just the food.
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Eat before you go to the party
If you wait, you’ll eat more and it will be much more difficult to control your blood sugar. Temptation will abound and an empty stomach can lead to poor decisions.
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Enjoy the party, but eat slowly
Take the time to enjoy the foods you only see once a year. You can have desert but watch your carbs the rest of the party or else your blood sugar will skyrocket. Everybody thinks they can’t have desert if they have diabetes. Not true. There’s nothing wrong with having desert – you just have to earn it by eating right earlier in the night.
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Bring a healthy dish you enjoy
You’ll be contributing to the spread, but you’ll know there’s at least one safe food that won’t hurt your blood pressure. Make sure you put some on your plate, too.
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Help clean up
That gets you up and moving after you eat. Also, it can be motivation to avoid that second plate: you might not want to be stuffed and miserable if you know you’ll be drying dishes later on.
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Don’t use holidays as a free pass for the whole season
Enjoy yourself on the holidays and during parties with friends and family, but the holiday season is not a “get out of jail free” card to eat cookies every day for weeks on end.