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How to manage blood sugar during holidays?
Discovered that you are diabetic or been on insulin for some time now? Heading into holiday season and worried about having more food and spiking up your blood sugar levels? It is not uncommon that we, humans get tempted when we see various mouth watering dishes during our festivals. Wide variety of sweets, spicy mixtures, and various choices of rice items etc, every dish is so tempting that we want to eat them all, irrespective of what our health condition is.
Add to it some non vegetarian and alcohol on some occasions; you are sure to mess up your blood sugar levels only to repent the next day or soon after having it. So, how can you manage eating what you like during festival or holiday season while keeping a tab on your blood sugar levels? Let’s look at some tips on managing diabetes during holidays.
Don’t fast
- Fasting before heading to a festive meal or a party only makes you binge on the food that is provided there. Don’t fast, you should continue following your daily routine when it comes to food. Eat in small portions at regular intervals just like any other day and then you follow the same at the party.
Eat all what you want but be mindful of the quantity/portion
- If it is a buffet, you can plan to eat more number of dishes, but keep a tab on ‘how much’ is getting onto your plate and then to your stomach. A little bit of many items is ok, just see that you take very small portions of sweets or rice items and more of vegetables, fruits.
- Try avoiding welcome drinks, shakes etc as they contain excess amounts of sugar. Keep drinking more water, that way you will automatically consume less food.
Check if the host can provide guests with special dishes for diabetics
- If your host is willing to offer different dishes for diabetics such as sugar free cakes, artificial sweeteners, don’t hesitate, you can let them know your requirements. Half of your problem is your solved, rest half depends on you – how much you eat.
Keep moving, don’t sit and keep chatting
- When you meet friends, family members after some time, you always tend to sit with them for long and talk. Instead, take a break after every 15 minutes, take a walk (with friends is even better) and then come back to have a sip of water before eating anything. Help the host and be active, playing with children or moving around. This helps your body in consuming the sugar in your blood so that even if you eat a little extra food, you will be good.
Keep drinking water
- Drink water before you leave, have some more once you reach the party or guest’s house. It is ok to pee more and get rid of sugar in your blood than to just keep it in your blood.
Drinking more water also fills your stomach and will not let you binge eat.
How about alcohol, can you consume alcohol if you are on insulin?
- First thing you need to do is, ask your doctor on whether you can drink at all. If you are allowed, how much is ok? When can you take your insulin shot or medicine before your drinking session? Then, follow his/her advice properly. Alcohol doesn’t contain sugar and will not spike up your sugar levels, but it can interfere with your medication. Interference of alcohol with some medications can hurt your liver, so it is important to check with your doctor.
Keep a tab on your blood sugar levels.
- Always remember to keep a check on your blood sugar levels. Remember that the allowed level of blood sugar after 2 hours after a meal is 140mg/dL. If you see that the levels are going up, stop eating immediately and take a stroll.
- If you see that you crossed the levels way too much, just call your doctor for suggestion.
Eat real slow
- Usually in parties or gatherings, you will have ample time to spend at the dinner table, especially if buffet is offered. Try to eat very slowly, in small portions. Eating slowly will help you fill your stomach with less food than eating faster. This will help in two ways – you end up eating less and you won’t spike your blood sugar levels as you are giving more time to your body.
Don’t regret
- At the end of the day, we are humans and To err is human! Despite of your strong will, some dishes and even friends may make you have more of what you shouldn’t be having. That’s ok. Don’t regret, let it go and focus on your routine from the next day. Adding stress will only increase your blood sugar levels. Just forget it and enjoy your memories.