Diabetic kids can enjoy Halloween too
Despite conventional thinking, sugar is not completely taboo for people with well-controlled diabetes. This means that children afflicted with this disorder don’t have to be deprived of occasional sweet treats, especially at Halloween.
“It’s true that a bag overflowing with candy must be managed by parents, but sugar is not the lone menace it was once thought to be,” says Dr. Doug Tkachuk at LifeLabs, a leading diagnostic centre. “What counts is controlling the total number of carbohydrates consumed at one time. Sweets can be included in moderation, as long as they are balanced with the other glucose-creating foods consumed that day.”
Here is some LifeLabs guidance on how to do it:
• To enjoy some Halloween treats following a meal, make a plan to eliminate one or two of the other carbohydrates on your plate such as the bread, pasta, rice, crackers, potatoes, fruit and vegetables.
• For example, if a meal contains grilled chicken, whole grain rice, carrots, a green salad and fresh fruit for dessert, look for ways to substitute foods with equal carbohydrate counts. Trade your carrots and fresh fruit for the chocolate. Or replace the carrots and salad with a low-carbohydrate vegetable such as broccoli, and add the chocolate.
• Prepare a lootbag trade. In advance, purchase non-edible treats like stickers, small toys, books and other favourites and make it fun to swap these for sweets. This will help make Halloween treats more than just “sweet treats”. Or, ‘buy back’ candy overflow and allow your child to use the money to purchase a toy or book.
• When purchasing chocolate treats to hand out, check the label. If sugar is the first listed ingredient, look for a different chocolate. Bittersweet and semi-sweet dark chocolate generally contain less sugar than other chocolates, except unsweetened chocolate, of course. White chocolate generally has the highest sugar content (up to 55%).
“It’s always recommended that blood glucose levels be checked often if diabetic children are participating in Halloween parties, costume parades, or tiring activities,” Dr.Tkachuk continued. “The same goes on any day that candy is consumed. Ask your doctor for advice since an insulin adjustment may be in order.”
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