The holiday season is a perfect time to reconnect with friends and family, but let’s be realistic: it can also be a time for overindulgence in unhealthy meal choices. With a multitude of rich, fatty, and sugary delicacies to choose from at every turn, it’s difficult to adhere to a healthy diabetic diet, which can result in significant health concerns for individuals with diabetes.
These suggestions however, can help diabetics remain safe through the holidays while avoiding feeling deprived of enjoyable goodies. Be sure to first talk to the doctor for his or her approval on any meal choices that stray from an approved diabetes nutrition plan.
Diabetic Diet Tips
- Decide on your favorites. Review options during a holiday meal, and pick your top two carbs to enjoy. For instance, determine if you’d rather have dressing or rolls, or pick between mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, rather than indulging in all of the selections.
- BYO. If attending a holiday meal at someone’s home, talk with the host regarding your nutritional restrictions, and offer to bring a healthy dish to share, such as a tray of veggies or a sugar-free dessert.
- Snack first. Enjoying a healthy snack in advance of the holiday meal will help keep blood sugar levels in line and aid in averting the temptation to go overboard. Healthy snack choices for diabetics include nuts, veggies with hummus, celery with peanut butter, string or cottage cheese, or an egg.
- Stay hydrated. Having a cup of water before sitting down to enjoy the meal will help provide a sense of fullness, making it unlikely that you’ll be inclined to overindulge.
- Stay active. After a heavy meal, resist the urge to settle into the sofa and watch television or snooze; instead, offer help with cleaning up the kitchen, play an active game with the children, or take a walk in the brisk fall air.
If, in spite of these pointers, you end up overeating or making unhealthy meal selections, be kind and forgiving to yourself. Remember that tomorrow is a new day to resume a healthy diabetic diet once again. Keep a close eye on your blood sugar to guarantee levels stay in the proper range and to avoid the potential for a serious problem, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, which could lead to a hospitalization and most definitely put a damper on the holiday spirit.
Reach out to the in-home care professionals at CareFor to learn more diabetic-friendly tips, for assistance with preparing nutritious meals, providing medication reminders and motivation to engage in exercise programs, and much more! We’re available throughout the holiday season and beyond to empower seniors to live their best possible lives. Email us or call us at (512) 338-4533 to learn more about why we’re the preferred Georgetown home care agency in the surrounding areas. Schedule your free in-home consultation today!