Christmas brings seasonal joy and comfort to the family. Christmas is a time of great excitement. It is a time for family and for children, for lights, for decorations, Santa presents and of course for food! Eating at Christmas is part of the fun, and there’s no need to completely miss out on certain foods. As a result, you may wonder how I manage my diabetes during Christmas.
Healthy eating for people with diabetes is the same as for everyone else. All of the traditional Christmas foods such as mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake can still be enjoyed but just don’t eat too many or too much in one go. The trick is to spread them out over the Christmas period and keep your portions as small as you can.
So here are some tips to help you eat healthy this Christmas and keep your diabetes on track:
- I know how much insulin to take to a gram of carbs. That helps me gain good blood sugar control all the time, not just for the holidays.
- I test my blood sugar level before and after dinner. In that way, I keep track of active insulin so I don’t overdose.
- If I drink alcohol, I inject bolus insulin. And of course, I need insulin as well if I mixed with juice or other carb-heavy drinks.
- Exercise, exercise, exercise. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, exercise helps keep your glucose under control. Do consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program. For Christmas, I usually go for a walk after dinner.
This is how I manage my diabetes at Christmas! 🙂 How do you manage your diabetes?
Enjoy Christmas and New Year, it is a time for celebration and eating for everyone.
