How to Enjoy the Holidays, Even with Diabetes

With a diabetes diagnosis, comes a list of responsibilities and lifestyle changes. From watching what you eat to having your blood checked regularly there’s very little wiggle room to just enjoy the average day. This becomes especially true around the holidays.

The holidays are the most tempting and tiring days of the year. Surrounded by sugars and carbs everywhere you go, there is no safe place to relax. If you have trouble curbing those cravings during the holiday season, here is a list of things you can do to still enjoy the festivities – even when you have diabetes.

Enjoy a Healthy & Well-Balanced Diet

There’s no harder time of the year to monitor your diet than the holidays. Luckily, there are many ways to satisfy your cravings without causing blood sugar issues.

Find substitutes for your favorite treats that will keep both you and your blood glucose monitor happy.

• Try using a sugar-free whip cream on top of your favourite fruits
• Exchange your portions to keep your sugars even. If you’re going to have a large helping of the casserole for dinner, considering keeping your carb intake a little lower for lunch.
• Research diabetic-friendly recipes. There are some great recipes out there that will make you forget you are eating something healthy and diabetes-friendly!

Regular Exercise

If you have diabetes, then you know how important it is to exercise and keep your body healthy. During the holidays it can be difficult to carve time out of your schedule to do this. Some simple suggestions to keep your step count up are as follows:

• Invest in wearable technology or a fitness watch to count your steps and track physical activity
• Take the stairs or walk when possible
• If shopping for gifts online, take a walk around the block to make up the steps lost for in-person shopping
• While wrapping gifts, stay standing and keep your body moving
• Use your holiday time to go sledding, snowshoeing or another fun outdoor activity
• Find new motivation to stay active.

Planning Ahead

By now, you should know what your carb count needs to be for the day. Plan your day around this number accordingly. You may have to check your blood a little more frequently around these times, so having a strip-free glucose monitor on you at all times will be handy.

Keep a food diary during the day. Remembering just how many snacks you actually consumed is easier said than done, especially while mindlessly snacking when preparing dinner or watching a movie. Keeping a food journal on you can help you keep track of what you ate, so you don’t overdo it.

Relaxation

It’s okay to give in once in a while. Having a small slice of pumpkin pie, or an extra helping of mashed potatoes is not going to send you into a downward spiral. Keeping your cool, as hard as it may be, can make all the difference to your diabetic health.

Managing Your Diabetes with MediSure

The holidays are a time for family, love, and fun. Having diabetes should not change that for you. Learning how to manage the disease and live with it in a healthy way can make all the difference in the world. For more information or helpful tips, take a look at the other articles in the MediSure blog section or contact us today.