Diabetic Friendly Halloween Tips

Do you live with diabetes or know a child who does? Holidays, especially ones filled with sweet treats like Halloween, require special attention and some discipline when it comes to celebrating. Here are some tips for handling the "treat" part of trick-or-treating for those who must monitor blood glucose levels.

1. Before you face a child clutching a full bag of Halloween candy, you need to make decisions about how much and at what rate Halloween treats will be allowed. You might also think about being consistent with all family members, so the one with diabetes is not singled out.

2. Diabetics can eat food containing sugar, but in moderation. Eating Halloween candy with a meal and not as an item alone is a better way to manage blood glucose levels. Another way to hold back a blood glucose rise is to be sure some fat is eaten with the sugar.

3. Not all treats are sweet. Consider offering a small bag of roasted peanuts, smoked almonds, or specialty cheese or sausage in place of candy or carbohydrate treats when you host a party or give out treats at the door this Halloween.

4. If you do allow candy or know that more candy might be consumed than is easily managed, consider making accommodations elsewhere in meals to account for the choices. For example, from dinner you might skip a serving of potatoes, pasta, rice, or bread, if candy is going to be consumed shortly after the meal.

5. Decide to host a halloween party so you can focus on costumes, crafts, and alternative ways to celebrate. You can also plan the party around a healthy meal. But if you do attend a party elsewhere, let the party host know your concern for diabetic friendly treats and environment.

6. Candy keeps for months. Consider managing the size and amount of treats that are eaten, and spread the bounty out over days, weeks, even months. The Joslin Diabetes Center offers a list of Halloween treats containing 15 grams of carbohydrates or less. One piece of candy from the list can safely substitute for one carbohydrate exchange.