Halloween is just around the corner, and kids are getting their costumes ready!
For families impacted by type 1 diabetes (T1D), a holiday centered around glucose-spiking treats can be a little scary. Breakthrough T1D is here to give you some tips to ensure your Halloween is fun, not frightful!
Focus on more than candy
Halloween is about dressing up and having fun! Participating is important—it’s a chance for kids to get imaginative and express their creativity with their friends.
Make it a learning experience
Use Halloween to teach your child how to enjoy treats responsibly. This can help them learn to estimate carbohydrates and calculate insulin doses. Record insulin doses and blood sugar levels after you child eats candy to learn what works best.
Our Halloween Guide has more helpful tips to make your holiday scare-free, including carb counts for candy!
Find a balance
Restricting sweets can lead to guilt and an unhealthy relationship with food. Encourage balancing healthy meals and exercise alongside occasional treats.
Let go of perfection
Look beyond the day’s blood sugar levels. Reinforce positive self-talk when things don’t go perfectly. If their blood sugar is high, help them understand how to handle that number without self-blame. Take a correction dose and move on.
And don’t forget: Halloween candy comes in handy for treating low blood sugar!
Happy Halloween!
