5 Ways to Prevent Diabetic Complications this Holiday Season
When it comes to preventing diabetic foot complications, it’s important to watch your nutrition. But, when the holiday season rolls around, it’s much harder to watch your diet. Still, your diabetes doesn’t take a break in December. That’s why we’re offering our top tips for preventing diabetic complications during the holiday season and all year round.
5 Easy Holiday Swaps for Diabetics
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, you’re likely preparing for the holiday rush. And our Hamilton and Boone County podiatrist wants you to know that, even with diabetes, you can enjoy traditional treats. You just have to make smart choices. Like swapping out old favorites for diabetic-friendly versions of those holiday treats.
1. Better holiday chocolates.
Yes, you can still enjoy chocolate this holiday season. But instead of sugary white or milk chocolate, think about choosing dark chocolate. A good-quality dark chocolate (that’s at least 70 % cocoa) has less added sugar and is a sweet and delicious way to end a holiday meal (bonus points if you choose an individually wrapped piece of chocolate). There’s half the carbohydrates in one ounce of dark chocolate as in a brownie, but both satisfy your sweet tooth.
2. Leave the house to get treats.
Snacking on holiday cookies around the house means you’ll take in more sugar and carbohydrates than you realize. Instead, go out and buy one special treat from a local bakery. Then, resolve to keep any extra treats out of the panty, so you won’t be tempted to overdo it on treats.
3. Work the 80/20 rule.
Around the holidays, it’s easy to make every day a cheat day. But, when you have diabetes, that can throw your blood sugar out of whack, increasing your risk for complications. Instead of indulging every day, start the month by picking one or two days when you’ll allow yourself a few small treats. Then, the rest of the month, be sure to stick to your diabetic meal plan to balance out those extra holiday favorites.
4. Research those Christmas cookies.
Traditional sugar cookies could be disastrous for your blood sugar. But that doesn’t mean all cookies are off the table! Instead, if you reach for shortbread, you’ve got a sweet treat with 9 grams of carbohydrates. That’s just about half the net carbohydrates of a frosted sugar cookie!
5. Re-think that drink.
Toasting at the holiday is a traditional way to share good cheer. But, with diabetes, you have to carefully choose your beverages. Even at the holidays, diabetics should steer clear of pop—just one can contains 40 grams of sugar-sourced carbohydrates. Egg nog is another top offender: each creamy glass carries up to 30 grams of fat, so it’s not the best choice for a diabetic. Now, don’t worry: there’s still a diabetic-friendly option for ringing in the New Year: Champagne! This sparkling wine has no fat and under 2 grams of carbohydrates per glass. Make sure to talk to your doctor before you drink alcohol and if you choose to drink, limit the amount and have it with food. A non-alcoholic sparking punch can be made by combining diet lemon lime soda and sparkling grape juice.
Ready to take control of your diabetic foot health? It’s important to see a podiatrist for comprehensive foot exams. That’s why, if you’re a bit behind on your visits, it’s important to schedule an appointment right away. Staying on top of your quarterly visits is more important than ever during the holiday season!