Holiday Indulgences: How to Celebrate Without Spiking Your Blood Sugar
Highlights:
- Overindulging during festivals can impact diabetes control and increase blood sugar levels
- Foods rich in sugar and refined carbs, like sweet desserts and beverages, raise blood sugar levels
- Planning, portion management, and informed food choices can help maintain stable blood sugar during the holiday season
Who would like to sacrifice modaks and puran polis on Ganesh Chaturthi? Or those scrumptious Diwali laddoos? Too much feasting during festivals affects blood sugar levels, which may pose challenges in diabetes control.
The best way will be to have smaller portions of food at regular intervals instead of having a large meal at once. Blood sugar levels can also rise during the festive season due to alcohol consumption, eating at odd hours, a lack of physical activity, mental stress, and social pressure.
What Foods Cause High Blood Sugar Levels?
These five food groups promote high blood sugar levels because they are high in sugar and refined carbs (1✔):- Sugary desserts
- Sweetened beverages
- Starchy side dishes
- Candied or dried fruits
- Fried foods
Healthier Alternatives to Sugary Food
During the holiday season, these foods can be replaced with healthier alternatives (2✔):- Replace sweet desserts with fruit platters or salads.
- As a healthy alternative to milk chocolate, choose dark chocolate with a greater cocoa content.
- Instead of sweet spreads, try almond or peanut butter.
- Replace sweetened yoghurts with plain Greek yoghurt and sweeten with honey.
- Make your treats with less sugar or sugar substitutes such as stevia.
- Select whole grain.
- Instead of sugary beverages, provide herbal teas with a touch of honey.
Methods for Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
Prepare ahead of time
Before attending holiday celebrations, plan your meals and snacks to ensure they meet your dietary requirements. Eat a balanced supper or snack before going out to avoid overeating on high-sugar meals later.
‘Celebrating the festive season? Discover how to enjoy those sweet treats without letting your blood sugar spike. From portion management to healthier alternatives, keep your health in check while indulging! #diabetescontrol #healthyholidays ’
Portion management
When enjoying holiday foods, keep portion sizes in mind. Smaller servings can help keep blood sugar levels stable. Use smaller plates to help you keep your serving portions under control.
Make an informed decision
Choose foods with fewer processed carbs and added sugars. Lean proteins, veggies, and whole grains should be prioritized. If you want to pamper yourself, choose a little piece and enjoy it carefully.
References:
- Sugars and blood glucose control - (https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7598079/)
- Diabetes care during Diwali - (https:www.narayanahealth.org/blog/diabetes-care-during-diwali/)
Source: Medindia
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2023, September 25). Holiday Indulgences: How to Celebrate Without Spiking Your Blood Sugar. Medindia. Retrieved on Nov 25, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/holiday-indulgences-how-to-celebrate-without-spiking-your-blood-sugar-213602-1.htm.
MLA
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Holiday Indulgences: How to Celebrate Without Spiking Your Blood Sugar". Medindia. Nov 25, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/holiday-indulgences-how-to-celebrate-without-spiking-your-blood-sugar-213602-1.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Holiday Indulgences: How to Celebrate Without Spiking Your Blood Sugar". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/holiday-indulgences-how-to-celebrate-without-spiking-your-blood-sugar-213602-1.htm. (accessed Nov 25, 2024).
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2023. Holiday Indulgences: How to Celebrate Without Spiking Your Blood Sugar. Medindia, viewed Nov 25, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/holiday-indulgences-how-to-celebrate-without-spiking-your-blood-sugar-213602-1.htm.