Managing diabetes during the christmas season

Managing Diabetes Over the Festive Season

Helpful advice to guide you through Christmas and New Year celebrations

Managing Diabetes Over the Festive Season

Helpful advice to guide you through Christmas and New Year celebrations

With this being a time of indulgence and celebration; foods and tempting treats available in abundance, it can make managing diabetes a little more difficult.

You can enjoy a treat, no food is banned. Just be mindful of what you are eating, when and how much of it! (unless you want to feel lethargic & grumpy – amongst others, are 2 typical symptoms of high blood glucose).

Here are some tips on how best to manage diabetes at this time:

• Christmas is one day, 2 days maximum. Try and eat healthier after this.

• Go easy on the potatoes and fill your plate with more vegetables and meat/nut roast instead.

• If you love Christmas pudding please see us in the shop for a healthier version recipe (they are so good!)

• Going for a walk after a meal will help with the post meal blood glucose spike.

• Alcohol: Avoid drinks with high sugar content such as liquors and sweet wines.

• Beers, ales and ciders contain carbohydrate and will increase your blood glucose initially. Spirits, Dry wines and Prosecco not so much.

• If having a drink with a mixer, opt for the diet/sugar free version.

• Please be aware that drinking alcohol can also lower blood glucose and cause hypos. Insulin and some Type 2 medications can cause hypos, so you must keep monitoring your blood.

• Stay hydrated – dehydration can cause blood glucose levels to rise.

Christmas can mean a bit more eating, less moving and a break from the norm which is to be expected. Have fun and enjoy! An occasional high blood glucose reading should not affect your long term diabetes health but it is important to get back on track as soon as possible. Continual high glucose readings will have a detrimental impact on your health.