How to Navigate the Holidays with Diabetes
Managing diabetes during the holiday season can feel challenging—especially with busy schedules, travel, and tempting seasonal foods. Whether you’ve lived with diabetes for years or were recently diagnosed, planning ahead is key to keeping your blood sugar stable.
Uncontrolled blood sugar can increase the risk of serious health complications, so staying within a healthy range is essential. The good news? A diabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean you have to skip the celebrations.
To help you enjoy the season confidently, here are eight practical tips to navigate the holidays while staying on track with your blood sugar goals.
8 Tips for Managing Diabetes During the Holidays
1. Have a plan
Planning ahead can help you enjoy holiday events while keeping your blood sugar stable.
Adjust your meals for special occasions:
If you know you’ll have a heavier, carb-rich holiday dinner, balance it out earlier in the day with lean proteins and non-starchy foods. You can also ask your healthcare provider about adjusting insulin before larger meals.Pack smart snacks while traveling:
Travel often comes with delays or limited healthy food options. Pack easy, diabetes-friendly snacks like pre-portioned nuts, seeds, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, whole-grain crackers, fresh fruit or veggies, or low-sugar protein bars.Monitor your blood sugar often:
Make sure to maintain your regular schedule of checking your blood sugar and taking your medication. Another travel tip is to make sure you have plenty of medication to last the duration of your holiday.
2. Watch Out for Holiday Weight Gain
Even a few extra pounds can impact your health. Weight gain increases your risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It can also change your body shape and how fat is stored in your body.
The effects depend on how much weight is gained: small increases may raise the risk of hypertension and heart disease, while larger gains can significantly increase the risk of stroke, according to the National Institutes of Health.
3. Be Mindful of Alcohol
Alcohol can cause unpredictable changes in blood sugar. Drink in moderation, monitor how your body responds, and avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Remember that holiday cocktails, beer, and wine often contain extra sugars—so factor them into your overall carbohydrate intake.
4. Try These Holiday Buffet Tactics
A little strategy can help you enjoy your favorite dishes without overdoing it.
Balance your plate: Use a smaller plate and fill most of it with non-starchy vegetables. Add lean proteins next, then finish with small portions of carbs or desserts.
Portion control: Aim for servings about the size of a deck of cards. Start with leafy greens and proteins before choosing starches or sweets.
Set Activity Goals
One of the most enjoyable ways to stay active during the holiday season is to dive into all the seasonal activities. From festive events to outdoor activities, the holidays are packed with opportunities to stay active and make the most of the season.
5. Prioritize Quality Sleep
Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night. Poor sleep can make your body less responsive to insulin and increase cravings, making blood sugar harder to control. Good rest supports your mood, energy, and overall health.
6. Reduce Stress
High stress levels can raise blood sugar levels. To manage this, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Also, set realistic expectations for the season and allocate time for rest or exercise as needed.
7. Stay Active
Why not plan some fun family walks or other activities to keep active together? You might also enjoy taking a walk before your meals—it can help keep your blood sugar in check. Just remember, making these moments enjoyable can really make a positive difference!
8. Focus on More than Food
Holiday traditions often revolve around food, but there’s so much more to enjoy—family, friends, faith, giving, and connection. Shifting your attention to meaningful moments can help reduce the temptation to overeat and support more consistent blood sugar levels.
Rapid A1C Testing in Liberty Hill
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults aged 45 and older receive a hemoglobin A1C test to assess their risk of prediabetes or diabetes. The test may also be administered to overweight people with diabetes risk factors who are younger than 45. At Aspire Family Medical in Liberty Hill, TX, we offer Abbott Labs Afinion 2 for rapid A1C testing, which can be completed during your scheduled appointment.
A hemoglobin A1C (also known as a hemoglobin A1C test or an HbA1c test) is a blood test that can provide information about average blood sugar levels. The test not only helps diabetes patients know whether they are managing their blood sugar levels well, but also helps healthcare providers diagnose diabetes or prediabetes in those who are unaware they have the condition.
With the Afinion™ System, there’s no need to send our patients to the lab or spend time tracking down their results. At Aspire Family Medical, we are patient-first, and having technology like the Afinion System helps us focus on what matters most — our time with our patients. This system produces results in minutes, so you can get peace of mind and hear directly from your healthcare team at the same appointment.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more about your A1C levels and get support for managing diabetes with confidence.