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Controlling diabetes over the holidays
Crazy schedules, lots of eating and drinking, and late nights can make anybody feel "out of synch" during the holiday season. It can also throw off diabetes control.
If you have diabetes, a little advance planning is the best thing you can do to keep yourself "in synch" throughout the holidays.
Going out? Take your equipment!
If you're going out, take your blood sugar monitoring equipment with you. This may seem inconvenient, but it gives you a lot of flexibility. As long as you can test your blood, you can make last-minute decisions to go out for a meal, to a party, a movie, whatever.
What about food?
The holiday season is probably the most challenging when it comes to sticking with your food plan. Once again, the key is to plan ahead.
- If you know that the event probably won't have the healthy food that you need, make sure to eat before you go. If your stomach is full, you'll be less likely to give in to temptation.
- Another option is to offer to take a dish. That way you can enjoy food along with everyone else.
- If you're going to a restaurant, think carefully about your food choices and ask questions about how the food is prepared. The more you know, the easier it is to make good choices.
A little help from family or friends
If the people who care about you know a little about the food plan and testing schedule you follow, they'll probably...
- Try to prepare things that you can eat. After all, food that's healthy for people with diabetes is good for people without diabetes, too.
- Be understanding when you excuse yourself to test your blood sugar. They may even help you remember to stay on schedule.
Related Links
Dining out: Tips to make good food choices
Diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism specialists
Source: Health Online, Inc.
First published: 12/07/99
Last updated: 11/15/2006
Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com