We recently saw a headline we adored. It was from the American Heart Association. It was “Diabetes control at the holidays: It’s not about perfection.”
While the holidays are an exciting time, they can also be stressful. Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s are upon us. Many people say, “Diet starts in January,” and throw their health plans out the window. That doesn’t work if you have blood sugar concerns. However, over the holidays, when you are traveling, hosting or going to events, it is essential to remind yourself it’s about managing your concerns, not perfection.
“You can do everything within your control, and still, your body’s reaction to the food you’ve eaten or the stress you might be under can be different from day to day,” said Melissa Magwire, a blood sugar specialist. “I think the one way to lose control is to assume that you can control everything.”
Ms. Magwire gave the critical advice that we always agree with of scanning a holiday meal and picking out your best options. She also gave advice to mitigate stress. Stress can impact blood sugar levels. Be sure you have enough of any medication you take. Whether the weather outside is frightful or you have a travel mishap, there can be reasons why you may run short on medication. So, make sure you have what you need now. You should also lower expectations for yourself and others. By not expecting picture-perfect holidays, you can have a wonderful time without worrying about details if something goes awry.
Over the holidays, diet, sleep patterns, exercise routines and stress levels can change. And all of those things play a role in blood sugar. Even when people try their best, they can still see unexpected blood sugar changes.
“Not beating yourself up over it is important,” Ms. Magwire said. You should “enjoy everything else about the holidays. Even though long-term effects of out-of-control glucose are important, too much worry can impact how you’re feeling without helping how [your blood sugar] is doing.” She added that people she talks to “tend to be fairly hard on themselves. And they look at it as ‘I did something wrong.’”
There are so many factors in blood sugar levels that it isn’t always as simple as “I did x so my blood sugar changed.” All you can do is your best. You can have a happy and healthy holiday season by getting up and moving during the day, making healthier food choices at holiday meals, opting to skip midnight chats and trying to lower the stress around you. At the end of the day, remember: you aren’t aiming for perfect, you’re aiming for good!
