Managing diabetes during the holidays can be stressful, but with some extra planning, you can put your mind at ease! This year will be my 20^th Thanksgiving with diabetes, and I have some helpful tips to share with you:

Familiarize yourself with the carb count of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. I recommend using Beyond Type 1’s Thanksgiving Chart to more accurately count your carbs. You should be able to eat whatever you want, just don’t forget to count your carbs and consume in moderation as needed.

Prior to starting your Thanksgiving feast, get your blood sugar in range. I understand, this is not always possible. I remember during the start of my Thanksgiving last year, my starting sugar was around 235. I decided to eat anyways, but I started off with the lower carb options! This allowed me to eat at the same time as everyone else without increasing my blood sugar too much. Once I was under 210, I began to have the food with higher carbs. As always, remember it’s important to keep an eye on your blood sugar!

I’ve always gone on a walk after Thanksgiving dinner. After dinner, grab a family member and go on a 10 minute walk. It will help keep your blood sugar from going too high, and it gives you extra family bonding time. It’s a win win!

Thanksgiving with diabetes doesn’t have to be stressful. Just plan ahead and loosen up a bit! This holiday is meant to be fun and shared with those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃