Ask Dana: Do you have any tips on how to manage Halloween and the holiday season with diabetes management?
IDS Director of Technology and Applied Research, Dana Roseman
QUESTION:
Dear Dana,
Halloween is coming, and I’m feeling anxious. My 7-year-old was diagnosed with T1D last spring, and this will be our first holiday that focuses on sweets. He’s excited about costumes and trick-or-treating with friends, but I can’t help worrying about how the candy will affect his blood sugars. Do you have any tips on how to manage this holiday and the holiday season to come along with diabetes management?
Wendy Kilmore
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
ANSWER:
Dear Wendy,
First, let me reassure you that you’re not alone—many parents of children with T1D feel exactly this way as Halloween and other holidays come closer. You want your child to have the joy of joining in, but you also want to keep them safe and avoid stress around blood sugar management. The good news is that with some planning, it’s absolutely possible to find balance.
One of the best strategies is to talk through the plan ahead of time with your child. When kids know what to expect, it feels less like something is being taken away and more like part of the routine. Before trick-or-treating, decide together when and how candy will be eaten. It is important to remember that most families set limits and expectations around eating the candy they receive during the holidays – it is not just about diabetes management but about being healthy for every child.
Timing also makes a big difference.
Trick-or-treating means lots of walking and running around. Oftentimes, the candy aids in preventing lows after all the physical activity. Additionally, rather than letting your child dive into a pile of candy right before bed, try enjoying sweets earlier in the evening or with a meal or snack. Pairing candy with other foods can reduce blood sugar spikes and help with insulin timing.
Consider shifting the focus a little: Halloween can be about more than just eating candy.
Choosing or making a costume, walking the neighborhood with friends, decorating the house, or sorting and trading candy are fun activities that are diabetes-friendly. Some families introduce traditions like the “Switch Witch” or a candy buy-back to trade sweets for a toy, book, or special outing. The goal is about giving your child other ways to take part in the holiday fun without making them feel different.
You’ll also find that a little flexibility goes a long way.
Blood sugars may be less predictable on Halloween, but that is okay. The goal isn’t perfect numbers; it’s keeping things steady so you can all enjoy a fun time. If your child has a slightly higher glucose reading than usual, that doesn’t mean the day was a failure. There are lots of fun holidays and family time ahead and learning to be comfortable with holiday celebrations and foods is an important part of diabetes management. If you need more help creating a plan for tricky foods and activities, let us help.
At Integrated Diabetes Services, we all enjoy a wide array of foods and activities and have developed strategies to manage diabetes without letting it overshadow a fun occasion.
We all live with T1D and have learned a few things along the way.
If you need more individualized guidance, connect with our team here at IDS!
One Response
I was diagnosed at age 8 about one week before Halloween, back in the days of NPH and regular insulin, and no CGM! I remember crying because I thought I couldn’t have any candy. Thankfully my parents let me have a couple of pieces each day – they were great about not denying me food and helping me learn to manage diabetes on my own. Thirty years later, I still mess up, but I am doing just fine 🙂