Holidays And Diabetes: Six Tips For Enjoying Season’s Treats
11/24/2009
Holidays And Diabetes: Six Tips For Enjoying Season’s Treats
By Cydne Kaelin
The holiday season spanning November to January is a special
time for many. Whenever you celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s holidays there will be lavish
festivities featuring buffets groaning with food. Families will
unite around the dining table to enjoy the many wonderful dishes
and special holiday treats traditionally served.
The hyper-abundance of rich foods, beverages and desserts can
wreak havoc on the diets of most during the holidays. If you
have diabetes or pre-diabetes, holiday dining can pose
considerable challenges. Diabetes is a disorder that leads to
high glucose or sugar levels in the blood when the body produces
little or no insulin – the chemical the body uses to break down
sugars in the blood. Roughly 90% of diabetics have what’s called
type 2 diabetes. The body’s cells are insulin resistant, and the
disease is managed with careful meal planning, exercise and
medication when needed. Pre-diabetes occurs when the blood
glucose level is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to
be classified as diabetes. Many traditional holiday dishes are
loaded with the very fats, sugars, salt and alcohol diabetics
are working to minimize. How to cope? Here are six tips for
enjoying the food-laden holidays with diabetes.
#1 - Plan for Best Results
Let’s face facts: you will eat. But your diabetic meal plan
takes no holidays. With diabetes you must have a strategy in
place to cope with the deluge of delights before you indulge.
Work with your dietician and your doctor to develop a plan, and
then stick to the plan. If you must sample some of Aunt Hilda’s
famed dessert, know what food trades you must make to do so.
Maybe you'll need to adjust your medication. Or add extra walks
to your daily routine (see tip #5). Work with your diabetes team
to come up with a plan that meets your needs.
#2 - Never Go Hungry
During the holidays lots of people go to parties ravenous. No
wonder they overeat. Ensure you have a balanced breakfast and
lunch the day of the party. Eat a small yogurt or other healthy
snack before you arrive.
#3 - Eat the Stuff That’s Good for You
Start with the healthy stuff – the veggie platter, fresh salads
– first, before choosing the fried, creamed, cheese-filled,
processed, high-fat goodies and desserts.
#4 - Focus on Friends and Family Before Food
Too often we mindlessly munch while distracted or mesmerized by
good conversation, a movie or the football game and we never
realize just how much we’ve really consumed. With diabetes,
you’ve got to track your food intake. The holidays are a time to
celebrate family and friends. Put the food down, and give your
companions your full attention. There’s plenty of time to eat
later.
#5 - Step It Up
Walking after a meal is perhaps the most important thing you
can do during the holidays for diabetes. In fact it’s something
everyone can do during the holidays, diabetic or not. A nice
long postprandial constitutional about one hour after a meal
will help lower your blood sugars and reduce any stresses of the
season. Invite your loved ones along and enjoy their company.
You could be helping them to stave off diabetes.
#6 - Always Monitor Your Blood Sugars
Don’t skip testing during the holidays. Make sure that your
blood sugars stay in check. Sometimes even the best laid eating
plans go awry because you can’t always know exactly what went
into that food you ate. Also, make sure someone at the gathering
knows you have diabetes. If your blood sugars drop too low and
you become hypoglycemic someone should be able to recognize you
need help.
Above all, relax, enjoy your family and the fun times. Take
some time out for yourself. Use these six tips to help you stay
healthy during the holidays with diabetes.
About the Author: Cydne Kaelin is a writer and a wife, niece
and grandaughter of diabetics. She is keenly interested in
diabetes and its natural treatment whenever possible. Visit her
blog at http://www.naturaldiabetesremedy.com for more
information on diabetes.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=207493&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
By Cydne Kaelin
The holiday season spanning November to January is a special
time for many. Whenever you celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s holidays there will be lavish
festivities featuring buffets groaning with food. Families will
unite around the dining table to enjoy the many wonderful dishes
and special holiday treats traditionally served.
The hyper-abundance of rich foods, beverages and desserts can
wreak havoc on the diets of most during the holidays. If you
have diabetes or pre-diabetes, holiday dining can pose
considerable challenges. Diabetes is a disorder that leads to
high glucose or sugar levels in the blood when the body produces
little or no insulin – the chemical the body uses to break down
sugars in the blood. Roughly 90% of diabetics have what’s called
type 2 diabetes. The body’s cells are insulin resistant, and the
disease is managed with careful meal planning, exercise and
medication when needed. Pre-diabetes occurs when the blood
glucose level is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to
be classified as diabetes. Many traditional holiday dishes are
loaded with the very fats, sugars, salt and alcohol diabetics
are working to minimize. How to cope? Here are six tips for
enjoying the food-laden holidays with diabetes.
#1 - Plan for Best Results
Let’s face facts: you will eat. But your diabetic meal plan
takes no holidays. With diabetes you must have a strategy in
place to cope with the deluge of delights before you indulge.
Work with your dietician and your doctor to develop a plan, and
then stick to the plan. If you must sample some of Aunt Hilda’s
famed dessert, know what food trades you must make to do so.
Maybe you'll need to adjust your medication. Or add extra walks
to your daily routine (see tip #5). Work with your diabetes team
to come up with a plan that meets your needs.
#2 - Never Go Hungry
During the holidays lots of people go to parties ravenous. No
wonder they overeat. Ensure you have a balanced breakfast and
lunch the day of the party. Eat a small yogurt or other healthy
snack before you arrive.
#3 - Eat the Stuff That’s Good for You
Start with the healthy stuff – the veggie platter, fresh salads
– first, before choosing the fried, creamed, cheese-filled,
processed, high-fat goodies and desserts.
#4 - Focus on Friends and Family Before Food
Too often we mindlessly munch while distracted or mesmerized by
good conversation, a movie or the football game and we never
realize just how much we’ve really consumed. With diabetes,
you’ve got to track your food intake. The holidays are a time to
celebrate family and friends. Put the food down, and give your
companions your full attention. There’s plenty of time to eat
later.
#5 - Step It Up
Walking after a meal is perhaps the most important thing you
can do during the holidays for diabetes. In fact it’s something
everyone can do during the holidays, diabetic or not. A nice
long postprandial constitutional about one hour after a meal
will help lower your blood sugars and reduce any stresses of the
season. Invite your loved ones along and enjoy their company.
You could be helping them to stave off diabetes.
#6 - Always Monitor Your Blood Sugars
Don’t skip testing during the holidays. Make sure that your
blood sugars stay in check. Sometimes even the best laid eating
plans go awry because you can’t always know exactly what went
into that food you ate. Also, make sure someone at the gathering
knows you have diabetes. If your blood sugars drop too low and
you become hypoglycemic someone should be able to recognize you
need help.
Above all, relax, enjoy your family and the fun times. Take
some time out for yourself. Use these six tips to help you stay
healthy during the holidays with diabetes.
About the Author: Cydne Kaelin is a writer and a wife, niece
and grandaughter of diabetics. She is keenly interested in
diabetes and its natural treatment whenever possible. Visit her
blog at http://www.naturaldiabetesremedy.com for more
information on diabetes.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=207493&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
Comments