Diabetes Health Living with Type 2: Eating Responsibly During the Holidays

With Christmas and the New Year right around the corner, there is sure to be a smorgasbord of food choices at the dinner table. There is sure to be hams, yams, fried turkey, pies, cakes, and all sorts of foods that can be harmful to a person with diabetes. While it’s true that we must watch what we eat, following a few simple rules of diabetic eating will allow me to enjoy some of the foods I love.

 

 

Watch the carbs. We’ve all heard of this one, and it is a rule that that I intend to follow. Having had the same family Christmas dinner for 44 years, I already know that the biggest carb contributors will be the dressing, candied yams, sweet potato pies, and the “Sock it to Me” cake that momma makes each holiday. While I may eat a spoonful of dressing, I plan to load up on the vegetables. In addition to eating vegetables, this year I’ve asked that stevia is used instead of sugar so that I can enjoy more of the sweet potato pie that my momma traditionally makes for me.

 

Eat smaller portions. Okay, I’ll admit to having eaten servings during the holidays that could feed three people. However, I realize that it is best to eat a smaller portion that allows my body to process the glucose more effectively than if I ate one large portion of food. So while I can rest assured that family members will be piling on the food and eating like it is their last meal, I will be conservative and eating like a supermodel.

 

Drink plenty of water. I once read that drinking a glass of water before meals can cause you to eat less. Whether or not this is true, drinking water will definitely cut the carbs and help flush your kidneys. It’s going to be hard to resist the sweet and tempting taste of an ice cold can of Grapico® soda or a cold glass of sweet tea but if I’m to keep my blood sugar in check and potentially add another day to my life, then water it is.

 

At the end of the day, Christmas is a time when friends and family get together to feast and have a good time. It always seems that the more a person eats during Christmas dinner the more it is perceived that they are having a good time; however moderation should always be a diabetic’s watch word.