Halloween’s magic without a spooky sugar spike

From parties and pumpkins to trick-or-treating and sweet snacks, most of us celebrate Halloween in some way — and as holidays go, it can get a little indulgent. A day mainly based on candy distribution can be tricky for anyone to navigate, but more so if you or your child has diabetes. That doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the fun, however ... and even some of the sweets.

You can enjoy Halloween’s magic without a spooky sugar spike with the following tips and tricks.

1. Keep It Positive

It’s important for both adults and kids with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to know that they are totally allowed to participate in all celebrations, including Halloween, Instead of focusing on what you or our child can’t eat during these times, focus on what you can eat.

2. Prepare Ahead of Time for Halloween Parties

If you plan on heading to a bar or party — where, no doubt there will be lots of food (most of which likely won’t be entirely healthy) — the goal is to walk in knowing what you should and should not snack on.
This requires that you truly understand your carbs and how to count them.
Choose to snack on some fats and proteins, which will slow digestion so you don’t get a big rise in blood sugar. If the party has a spread laid out, look for choices like crudités and a bit of hummus, a few pieces of cheese, and lean meats.

3. Be Smart About Alcohol

Cocktail and wine glasses often overflow on Halloween night, but people with diabetes should be extra careful to consume with moderation.
Here’s why: When you drink alcohol, your liver is doing two things. It’s trying to metabolize the alcohol in your cocktail while also trying to stabilize your glucose levels. According to the American Diabetes Association, the liver isn’t great at multitasking, especially if you’re imbibing on an empty stomach: Your liver will choose to metabolize the alcohol over maintaining your blood sugar, which can lead to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your glucose levels fall dangerously low; if you’re taking medications like insulin or sulfonylureas while drinking, alcohol can especially increase the risk of low blood glucose.

4. Set Realistic Expectations — and Give Yourself Some Grace

Expecting yourself to never indulge on holidays or beating yourself up when you do can set you up for failure. Managing diabetes is not easy and what matters is eating healthfully most of the time and keeping your blood sugar in the target range most of the time.
Aim for healthy blood sugar levels at least 75 to 80% of the time, rather than having an expectation of perfection.

Now, get out there, stay safe, and enjoy a spookalicious Halloween!