During the holidays, people prepare delicious foods such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and desserts, like pie or cookies, to celebrate the occasion. But these foods can negatively affect diabetics if they do not take precautions. Certain foods affect diabetics’ blood sugar levels differently from other foods.
Many delicious holiday foods are loaded with carbs, fats, and sugars that impact people’s health if not properly managed. Personally, when consuming food like bread, pastries, or sugar-filled treats, it causes blood glucose spikes. Diabetics need to prepare a balanced meal with reasonable portions to maintain good blood sugar.
The biggest misconception about diabetics is that they can not eat foods with a lot of carbs. This is far from the truth. According to the Baltimore medical system, some effective ways to prevent high levels are to choose healthier options, watch portion sizes, and balance your plate. By using this information and applying it to diabetics’ daily life, they can both enjoy their yummy holiday foods and maintain a stable glucose level; these precautions may also help people without diabetes with other health concerns.
(istockphoto)
Doctor Elizabeth E. Littlejohn, MD, an Endocrinologist at the University of Michigan Health – Sparrow Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic, tends to see higher blood glucose levels in diabetics during the holidays due to no school, no sports, and high-density calories. She recommends a dietitian to everyone, especially during the holidays, to show people what they should and should not eat. Littlejohn also recommends physical activity and sleep during the holidays, so people will not end up with other health problems.
Keona Hamel, Northwest High School’s school nurse, believes that it is essential for all students to maintain a healthy diet, especially during the holidays. She expressed that when students do not take proper care of their diet, it can affect them mentally and physically, causing health issues or a negative impact on their mental health. Hamel also expressed that when students return for their break, they tend to be less organized with their routines.
“Their schedules are out of whack, so they’re not as strict with their normal routines,” Said Hamel.
People often use the holidays as an excuse for not being as strict with their routines. If people do not take proper care of themselves, they may begin to develop other health issues, just as diabetics have to follow a strict routine or else they have to face the consequences of high glucose levels.
Some holiday foods that I eat during the holidays are mashed potatoes, rolls, corn casserole, and more. These foods affect my number by having a lot of carbs and sugar in them. I try to avoid this by eating small, balanced portions and frequently checking and maintaining my number. This way, if I want something different, I can enjoy it! Although it is the holidays, I still stick to my routines and diet, so I do not have to pay any consequences.
Holiday foods do not just affect diabetics, but they can also affect others with health issues. Lots of holiday foods cause health issues such as weight gain and potential heart problems, mental problems, or worse. People need to be aware that maintaining a balanced meal, even during the holidays, is very necessary to help prevent occurrences such as health issues from occurring, similar to how diabetics do every day.
