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

While visiting relatives and friends during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), meal times may deviate from your daily routine. Therefore, plan ahead: If you inject insulin or take medication to lower your blood sugar, ask your doctor for the best plan if you have to eat at irregular times.

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

3. Always move

Keeping your body active remains important throughout the Lunar New Year holiday. You can wake up a little earlier to take a short walk or squeeze in a walk while visiting relatives nearby.

4. Tips to enjoy your favorite foods

However, there are still ways for people with diabetes to enjoy the Lunar New Year with their loved ones and feel as comfortable as possible.

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

There might be a lot of delicious food. You can try everything, but portion sizes are important. Try a smaller portion or a little bit of each dish. To keep your blood sugar levels normal, try to keep your total carbohydrate intake (including dessert) as low as usual.

5. Tips for drinking a little alcohol

It's okay to have 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 medication.

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 mindful of craft spirits, wines, or spirits, as these may have very high alcohol content.
• It's best to drink it 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 detrimental to 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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