Eyes on Diabetes – 16 Tips for Health-wise Holiday Eating & Managing Diabetes

November 14 of every year is the World’s Diabetes day, and in celebration of this year’s edition themed Eyes on Diabetes, we talk about some of the tips to help you stay healthy and manage diabetes, especially during this holiday season.

Special meals and delicious desserts tend to be trending this time of the year. Many diabetes patients often feel it is a torture seeing their favorite meals without being able to have a taste of them. It is, however, worth noting that such patients can still enjoy their foods but of course, with great caution, which would require weighing the pros and cons of such foods.

The guideline below will help stay healthy and happy as a diabetic patient, even as you enjoy your holidays.

Living with Diabetes

• Maintain your routine and ensure your medications are taken regularly.
• Volunteer to bring your own dish to parties, opting for a healthy alternative.
• Cut back on the carbs in the meal, if you have to indulge yourself.
• Never skip meals, as you need to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
• Avoid leading a sedentary lifestyle. Ensure you exercise regularly and keep your body active.

Healthy Food Choices

• Always have healthy snacks handy.
• Eat vegetables as opposed to crackers and bread.
• Try plain Greek yogurt when making dips or spreads as opposed to using sour cream or cream cheese.
• Serve sweet potatoes with traditional version topped with brown sugar or marshmallows when hosting guests.
• Fill your small plate with appropriate portions of your favorite foods if you cannot resist the temptation.
• Avoid alcohol as much as you can.
• Drink club soda with a slice of lime or lemon for a cocktail.
• Reduce gravy or choose the au jus version in place of a thickened one.
• Always stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

After Eating

• Be as active as possible, and this does not necessarily mean hitting the gym. Walk, jog, skip, dance, or run.
• Get enough rest – sleep.

It is the holidays in a bit, and we all need some time to enjoy ourselves, even if it requires indulging, so eat healthily and even more importantly, stay healthy.