Helpful Tips for Managing Diabetes on Thanksgiving

When it comes to diabetics, Thanksgiving can be one of the most tempting holidays when it comes to food. The mind state of "eating right" can be in question when one is surrounded by their favorite foods during the holiday season. Sure there are certain limitations you must place on yourself, being a diabetic, however; it doesn't mean you have to miss out on any of the fun or better yet, any of your favorite foods!

Basic Guidelines: Being a diabetic, you should already know your limitations when it comes to food consumption. Around a holiday, such as Thanksgiving, there are bound to be lots of "tempting" dishes placed in front of you. Fight the temptation! This doesn't mean don't try your favorite candy yams, mashed potatoes or even cherry pie, this means limiting yourself to a smaller portion. My mom, who has been a diabetic for 7 years, has learned to master the technique of eating her favorite meals in smaller portions than she used to. She says the "food cravings" only get unbearable when people restrict themselves from their favorite foods all together. It's ok to live life and enjoy your favorite dishes, just in sensible moderations. Learning to manage your diabetes is a lot more complex than just watching your sugar intake, it involves everything you eat. During the holiday season, those tasty delicacies that you love so much tend to contain lots of fats and carbohydrates. Do yourself a favor and stick to a healthy but flavorful diet, enjoy yourself.

Be Prepared Ahead of Time: The first thing you should know is that, every diabetic is different. This means what works for you, may not work for the next person when it comes to dietary needs. Before hosting/attending any type of Thanksgiving function, take proper precautions as far as checking blood sugar and taking meds. Also think ahead, if you feel there won't be any food that you can indulge in, try bringing your own dish. A lot of people have a "mind thing" about bringing dishes to a Thanksgiving function, however; you have to make sure you have something to eat in case everything else fails. Not everyone understands the needs of a diabetic, therefore they may not specifically adapt to the dietary needs of one when it comes to cooking.

Things to Avoid: Once you're at a Thanksgiving function, seeing all of the food may make it hard to stick to your plan. This is to be expected, however before you enjoy yourself, pay attention to details. You have complete control, you have control over how much turkey or mashed potatoes someone puts on your plate. You have control over how much stuffing or ham gets piled on your plate, use your control! The main thing to remember is "no overeating". This may include leaving the gravy mound off the mashed potatoes and turkey, or cutting your macaroni portion in half. Overeating will cause you to lose control over how many sugars and fat you've put into your body. This will cause your blood sugar level to go thru the roof if you aren't careful, just be wise and don't overdo it. Also, avoid or limit your alcoholic drinks due to the excessive amounts of sugar they possess. Know that excessive amounts of alcohol may also clash with your medications so take precaution.

Taking Care of Your Body: Taking care of your body, deals with a lot more than what you eat. During the holiday season it's very important for a diabetic to eat the right things, along with getting the right amount of exercise. Sure there will be a lot of games/TV programs on that give you a reason to be lazy, however; don't be fooled. Use your spare time exercising or "staying busy" to avoid lying around the house. Exercise is important for everyone, especially a diabetic.

Be Thankful: This is the most important tip! On a day like Thanksgiving, you must be thankful for everything and everyone you have in your life. Sure you may get tired of always having to "monitor" what you eat during the holidays, but don't let it get you down. By following the right guideline and having the right attitude, you can enjoy the fun along with everyone else!