How Diabetics Can Safely Navigate the Holiday Season
The holiday season is just loaded with celebrations that everyone looks forward to. Both young and old can agree that it is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Even though the holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and often indulgence, if you have diabetes, then you know that you’ll still need to focus on healthy eating and having a healthy lifestyle overall. Honestly, with all of that good food and drinks going around, it can truly be hard to manage blood sugar levels.
This is why, during this festive period, a lot of careful planning and consideration is required. How can you make sure that you’re totally safe? Well, here’s exactly what you need to know when it comes to maintaining optimal health and staying safe while enjoying the holiday season with your loved ones!
You’ll Need to Plan Mindful Meals
This is pretty obvious, but it never hurts to repeat it. So, planning is key to managing diabetes during the holidays. You need to be mindful of your meal choices, and opting for well-balanced plates that include all the standard (meat, veggies, etc.) is vital. It also might be best to use some smaller plates since these can help control the portion sizes, and they help you avoid overeating.
If you’re going out to eat or even going to friends and family for dinner, you might want to ask how much salt and sugar is in the food. It’s super important to play it safe. You may consider using over the counter suppliments as well, during this busy season. Cardarine solution is a suppliment found to enhance metabolism and fat burning capacity. In research studies, it was found to improve glucose and insulin levels, which may benefit the health of persons with diabetes. In the end, it comes down to you watching what you eat and not being afraid to ask about the food ingredients itself. You have to try your best to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet during the holiday season. As always, speak to your healthcare providers for guidance on diet and medications to ensure your health and well-being.
Monitor Blood Sugar Levels Often
It’s probably best to do this a tad more than regularly, if possible, just for safety. You seriously want to keep a close eye on your levels to ensure they remain within your target range since there are just a lot of festive meals and snacks during this time of year. More frequent self monitoring will ensure that you are treating any erratic blood sugar levels as soon as possibe, lowering the risk of complications.
Limit Alcohol as Much as Possible
As you might already know, alcohol can have the potential to affect blood sugar levels. Plus, this is also known for interacting with diabetes medications. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation and be aware of the potential impact on your blood sugar. Occasional drinks are okay, but only do so on a full stomach and monitor your blood sugar levels moreso at this time. When possible, , you might also want to opt for lower-carb beverage options if these are available.
See If You Can Have Diabetic-Friendly Dishes
If you’re the one that’s cooking, then, of course, you’re going to have all of the control. Just make sure you have something that you’re able to eat, and all the better if it’s diabetic-friendly and flavorful for everyone else to eat.
Have a Plan for Sweets
This basically piggybacks on the above paragraph. As you know, sweets are a ubiquitous part of the holiday season. There are so many sweets out there, and who doesn’t love to try them during this time of the year? If you have a sweet tooth, plan for it by incorporating desserts into your meal plan and choosing smaller portions (which was already mentioned). You should definitely consider sugar substitutes or healthier dessert alternatives to satisfy your cravings without causing significant blood sugar spikes.
Happy holidays and Happy 2024!
