Q: [All Ages] As a parent of a diabetic child, how do I manage trick-or-treating?
A: Halloween can be a “tricky” time to manage blood sugars,
especially with all sorts of treats available. Even fun events can distract
a child from their normal symptoms of high and low blood sugar. Keeping
this in mind on holidays like Halloween is important. Checking blood sugars,
staying hydrated and having a plan can help you and your little ones stay
safe and happy.
On Halloween day:
- Plan to eat a healthy, balanced dinner before trick-or-treating to fuel
the fun! This will help optimized blood glucose control and reduce the
risk of having too much candy due to hunger before the activities begin.
- Be safe and ready. Take a bottle of water, a flashlight, comfortable shoes,
and a glucometer and glucose tablets. Always communicate with the group
and other families if your child is at risk of hypoglycemia.
- Avoid snacking on candy until they are home. Keep water and a healthy travel
snack like trail mix available in case hunger sets in.
After trick-or-treating:
- Exchange extra candy for pennies or other non-edible goodies such as stickers,
small toys or fun accessories.
- Have your child pick their favorite candy and donate the rest.
- Invite siblings and friends to participate in these exchanges and donations.
- Focus this holiday around spending time with friends and dressing up rather
than on candy and sweets.
- Plan fun Halloween activities such as carving a pumpkin, visiting a pumpkin
patch or a haunted house.
- Use non-chocolate candy to treat lows, but limit the amount of candy eaten
each day. Make a jar designated for candy to treat “lows.”
- Plan a schedule to eat candy; perhaps add one candy daily to their school
lunchbox or as a treat after dinner.
Joanna Gallo Moreno is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and certified
diabetes educator at the
Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag.