Enjoy your time with loved ones without blood sugar spikes
You should be able to enjoy social events even if you have diabetes. Living with diabetes can inhibit celebrations but by implementing these healthful tips, you can still have fun with your family, friends, or colleagues.
Celebrate smart
Most birthdays, weddings, Christmas celebrations, or other festivities come with heaps of food, and it is easy to overeat and send your blood sugar levels through the roof.
Here are some tips to handle big feasts:
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Eat normal-sized meals
Only fill your plate once and try to stick to your normal portion sizes. Or, if you want to try lots of different dishes, eat smaller portions.
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Choose your dishes carefully
Luckily, when it comes to feasts, there is an abundance of tasty dishes to choose from. Try to avoid dishes with lots of sugar, like sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. Rather choose veggie dishes or salads.
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Snack before the feast
During festivities, meals might happen late in the afternoon or late in the evening. While waiting for mealtime, nibble on some healthy snacks, like raw veggies with hummus. This will help keep your blood sugar levels stable and keep you from overeating during the meal.
Eat healthful snacks
Some healthful snacks include nut and seed trail mix, cheese sticks, or whole grain crackers. If there are no healthy snacks, and the snack table is crammed with sugary, high-GI foods, try to limit eating unhealthy snacks by socialising as far away from the snacks as possible.
Host
The best way to control what you eat at a get-together is to host the event. If you organise the event, you can serve scrumptious dishes that cause your guests to hold your cooking skills in high regard whilst simultaneously lowering your blood sugar levels.
If you are not hosting, you can ask the host if you could bring a tasty, healthy dish and snacks along. This way you can add some dishes to the feast that will help keep your blood sugar levels stable.
Plan ahead
If you can create a plan on how to keep your blood sugar levels stable before a celebration, you will be able to enjoy the special time more. You don’t have to anxiously worry about what you eat; you can simply follow your plan.
If you are going to a restaurant, look up the menu online ahead of time to scope out healthy, balanced choices. Know what healthy food you’d like to order beforehand and enjoy your time out.
Watch your alcohol intake
Often, alcoholic drinks are enjoyed at celebrations. When you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can worsen some diabetic health complications. Check with your healthcare provider about whether you should abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages.
If you do decide to drink alcohol, opt for drinks with lower calories and less sugar. Good options are light beer or wine.
Alternate between drinking alcohol and water. Drinking lots of water will keep you hydrated and help you quickly get rid of waste products in your body.
Get active
Physical activity can help lower high blood sugar levels. Why not incorporate some activities with friends and family whilst celebrating? You can, for example, get your heart pumping by dancing.
If you are celebrating at home, take a leisurely stroll with your loved ones through the neighbourhood after your meal. If you have a swimming pool, lower your blood sugar levels simply by swimming a little.
Check your blood sugar levels
No matter where you are or what you are doing, it is important to keep tabs on your blood sugar levels. If you struggle to remember to check continuously, talk to your doctor about a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These devices measure your blood sugar levels in real-time and can connect to a smartphone app for easy tracking.
It is also important to ensure that someone knows about your condition and can help you when your blood sugar levels are too high or too low.
Takeaway
Living with diabetes can be life-limiting and you might especially feel its restricting effects when you are celebrating. Big events can still be fun – there are lots of things you can do to help keep your blood sugar levels from skyrocketing whilst enjoying time with loved ones.