Diabetes and Christmas

Christmas brings seasonal joy and family comfort. With food in abundance, it's also a tough time.

Maintaining the discipline to control the amount and amount of sugar can be particularly difficult.

Here are some tips for conscious eating at Christmas for those struggling with willpower.

Commit to a Meal Plan

It's easy to get carried away with what's on the table. To reduce the chances of this happening, plan how much you want to eat and stick to it.

Hunger can skew your judgment, so it's best to prepare this when you're not hungry. Remember that alcohol is high in calories and fluctuates in sugar content.

Plan how much and when to drink and stick to it. Let your family know before Christmas dinner is also a good idea.

Drink a glass of water before meals

Drinking a glass of water before meals is a simple and effective way to reduce food intake. It makes you feel full faster and suppresses your appetite.

Base Your Diet on Non-Starchy Vegetables

Vegetables are a staple of a sensible diet. Make sure vegetables make up a good portion of your plate.

You may be tempted to eat another portion if others are still eating.

Be a Slow Feeder

Eating slowly not only helps with this, but it also allows you to enjoy what you eat more.

Don't feel guilty about turning down the offer.

Any food you eat will end up in your bloodstream, so it's okay to say NO.

Feeling full can be very unpleasant in itself. It's also worth considering that the body's natural reaction when digesting a large meal is to release excess sugar into the bloodstream.

Stay away from desire

A 20-minute walk in the fresh air can boost endorphins and serotonin to help curb cravings. Learn to "walk away from the things that trouble your health."

Test your blood if possible

If you do a self-test, commit to checking your blood sugar regularly over Christmas to catch these blood sugar fluctuations early.