Diabetes Friendly Halloween is that Possible? | Accu-Chek
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Diabetes Friendly Halloween is that Possible?

Living with diabetes can make Halloween a difficult time for people who love this particular holiday.

What’s not to love, right? You get to dress up in costumes, decorate your home, and dish up delicious treats to hand out to friends, family, and trick or treaters. When you have diabetes, Halloween can be a mountain of temptation, making it easy to stray from the healthy plan you have worked so hard to create for yourself.

It does not have to be. Especially if you consider healthy options that help you avoid blood sugar spikes. We will share with you some of the things we found that helped us stay true to the spirit of Halloween without embracing unhealthy amounts of sugar.

Indulge Judiciously:

It is important to focus on CAN rather than CANNOT. A diabetes diagnosis does not mean you must live a life without sugar ever again.

It does mean that your body is incapable of processing large amounts of sugar in a healthy manner, so you need to adjust how many sweets you consume. This is especially true during times like Halloween when sugary treats are in abundant supply.

A good idea is to create a personal rule of eating good foods first. If you focus on filling up on good foods first – filling, low carb options made with whole foods – you’re less likely to overindulge on treats.

  1. Choose your treats wisely. You may not know this, but most candy makers offer “fun size” or smaller size versions. These goodies contain less sugar than their larger counterparts, allowing you to enjoy them without guilt or unhealthy blood sugar spikes.
  2. While size does matter; when reducing the amount of sugar you put into your body, it is not the only consideration.

Some candy has less sugar than others.

  1. Dark chocolate, for instance, is a healthier choice than milk or white chocolate.
  2. We found that the sugar-free versions of candies, like peanut butter cups, made for delicious substitutions that satisfied our sugar cravings.

 Just remember to enjoy these in moderation as well, or you might develop an upset stomach.

Choose Fruit as a Treat

Fruit offers a healthier form of sugar, in moderation, of course. Berries are among the best to choose when seeking to avoid sugar spikes. An apple can be a satisfying treat to eat that is quite seasonable and appropriate for Halloween festivities. Once upon a time, bobbing for apples was a widely practiced activity during this season.

You can also make a variety of snacks and treats that include pumpkin as a primary ingredient. Or make a variety of other fun, healthy Halloween treats. Also, don’t forget to save the seeds from your Jack-O-Lanterns for roasting. They make tasty treats that satisfy salty food cravings and they are full of a variety of health benefits.

 

Stay Active

Endocrine Web recommends exercise as an important tool for controlling blood sugar levels and an essential part of any diabetes treatment plan. If you stay active throughout the night, you might discover that your blood sugar levels remain fairly stable even if you indulge in a small treat along the way. The site goes on to say that the exercise helps insulin work more effectively. Even among people who are insulin resistant.

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember during Halloween is that you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization, there were 422 million people living with diabetes worldwide in 2014. Controlling your diabetes often involves a multi-step process that includes:

  • Following a healthy diet.
  • Taking appropriate medications.
  • Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly.
  • Engaging in moderate physical activity daily.
  • Regularly screening for signs of complications.

 

If you are struggling with your diabetes diagnosis or your treatment plan, talk to your physician. Your doctor may be able to recommend resources to help you manage your condition and treatment for a more favorable outcome. Especially during times of greater temptation, like Halloween.

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