If you have diabetes, it's especially important for you to stick with your exercise, mealtime, and medication schedule – even through the holidays. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to ignore the holidays, skip out on holiday traditions, or turn down invitations to holiday parties. It just means you need to plan for them.
Shopping
- If possible, shop from home. Use mail order catalogs or make purchases over the Internet. It will keep you on your routine schedule and reduce your stress level – and probably save you money too.
- Plan your shopping trips. Before you head out to the mall, make a detailed list of what you plan to buy to save yourself time.
- When you go out shopping for presents, take a healthy snack with you. It's important to eat at regular intervals to keep you blood sugar stable. You don't want to find yourself choosing between a deep-fried delight or a quick-to-grab sugary treat.
- Be sure to take your insulin with you, and to test your blood sugar periodically. Exercise can cause your sugar levels to drop unexpectedly.
- If you're not sure you can fit shopping and exercise into your day's schedule, plan to walk the mall at a pace rapid enough to fit your exercise needs.
Food
- Ask your healthcare team for some suggestions for diabetic-friendly holiday cakes, candies, and cookies.
- Focus on vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat meats. Many vegetables make attractive appetizers, as well as accompaniments to main dishes. If you serve potatoes, bake them instead of mashing.
- Take smaller portions of your must-have-but-not-so-good-for-you foods. Be sure to factor them into your meal plan for the day.
- Drink plenty of water. Add lime slices for a festive touch.
- When you're invited to a holiday party, ask the host or hostess what you can bring. Explain that you're diabetic and that you'd like to bring a low-fat, sugar-free dish. Then, ask what's on the menu to help you with your meal exchanges.
Exercise
- Try out new sports, like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Even shoveling snow or building a snowman or a snow fort with your children can give you a good cardiovascular workout.
- If the weather is too cold or wet, you could join a health club or exercise group.
- Tune into an exercise program on television and workout in your home. You could also use a treadmill or other exercise machine. You might be able to find a good one in the classifieds section of your local newspaper or on an Internet auction site.
- After a holiday meal, take the whole family out for a walk.
Stick with your regular routine as much as possible. When changes are necessary, plan for them to lessen their impact on your health. |
