5 safe tips for people with diabetes to enjoy the holidays

Nutritionist Toby Amidor, a member of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, shares five tips to help diabetics feel their best during the holidays, according to the health website Eating Well (USA).

1. Use the "plate" trick for diabetes

The holidays are a time to gather with family and friends. Focusing on eating and visiting during this time can be stressful, especially for people with diabetes.

One of the easiest ways is to follow the American Diabetes Association's "plate method," which allows people with diabetes to comfortably manage their food portions without having to measure them. Here's how:

• Fill half your plate with low-carb vegetables like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, or salad.
• ¼ of the plate is protein like fish or chicken.
• ¼ of the plate should be starchy carbs like whole grains, fruit or sweet potatoes.

2. Plan your snacks

When visiting for the New Year, mealtimes can get out of sync with your normal routine. So plan ahead: If you take insulin or blood sugar medications, talk to your doctor about the best way to plan for when you have to eat at irregular times.

If needed, bring healthy snacks to munch on before mealtime.

3. Always move

Staying active is still important during the holidays. You can get up a little early to go for a walk or take advantage of the walk while visiting relatives near your home.

4. Tips to enjoy your favorite foods

However, there are still ways for diabetics to celebrate Tet with loved ones and feel most comfortable.

There are simple ways to give yourself permission to enjoy the foods you love. Just reduce your carbs, sugar, and portion sizes.

There will probably be a lot of delicious food. You can try them all, but portion size is key. Try a smaller portion or a little of each dish. To keep your blood sugar normal, try to keep the total carbohydrate content of your meal (including dessert) as low as usual.

5. Tips for drinking a little alcohol

It is okay to drink a little alcohol occasionally. However, drinking alcohol can lower blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous for people who inject insulin or take blood sugar lowering medications.

According to the health website Eating Well , diabetics who want to drink a little alcohol during Tet should follow these tips:

• Do not take on an empty stomach or when blood sugar is low.
• Take only after meals, especially if taking insulin or diabetes medication.
• Don't skip meals if you plan to drink alcohol.
• Be careful with craft liquors, wines or spirits, these can have very high alcohol content.
• Best taken with a calorie free diet beverage.

Avoid a common mistake: Skipping meals

If necessary, you should talk to your doctor about eating during the holidays.

The busy holiday season makes it easy to skip meals, but this can be bad for your blood sugar. Skipping meals can also lead to low energy levels, increased cravings for carbs and sugar, and even unstable blood sugar.

The key to maintaining stable blood sugar levels is to spread your meals evenly throughout the day, according to Eating Well.

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