Tips and Tricks for Enjoying Halloween with Kids with Diabetes
Don’t let diabetes spook you
I don’t know about you, but I find Halloween to be one of the most entertaining, quirkiest and of course scariest days on the annual calendar. There’s something quite hilarious about dressing up in outrageous outfits, walking the streets trick or treating and attending gorily themed parties.
Throwing diabetes into the Halloween mix doesn’t have to spook you or your kids. Sometimes moving the focus away from the ‘treats’ can seem like an impossible task, however here are a few tips and tricks for Halloween to ensure you can enjoy the creepy celebrations!
Focus on the planning
Get your whole family or group of friends involved in choosing the perfect costume. Also, kids love to craft, so spend time making the spookiest decorations.
Games
If you’re hosting a Halloween party prepare games that do not focus on candy or treats. How about pin the broomstick on the witch or a treasure hunt with scary tricks rather than treats? Or what about Pumpkin Smash, where everyone ties an orange balloon to their ankle with the aim to pop each other’s balloon? Let your creativity run wild!
Set some limits
If trick or treating, set a limit on the number of treats that can be eaten whilst out and about. This limit could apply to all members of your family or group of friends to ensure an all-inclusive event.
Non treat prizes
After trick or treating, everyone could count their treats and an auction could occur. People would trade their candy for prizes. For children the prizes might be a toy, book or special outing. For adults, prizes might include novelties or home-made gift vouchers. For example, an hours ironing, housework or babysitting.
Count carbs
For those people with diabetes who count carbohydrates, continue to do so even during Halloween. This will help those people with diabetes who adjust their insulin doses based on carbohydrate intake to ensure an adequate amount of insulin is administered. Treats could be placed into separate snap lock bags (with the carb count written on the outside of the bag) to enjoy over the next week or two (depending how lucky you were whilst trick or treating).
Make some lower carb treats with your family or friends
This is all part of the fun and planning for Halloween and could be as simple as making slimy jello worms:
Ingredients — diet red jello made as per directions.
Method — Stand straws up in a cup. Pour the liquid jello mixture into the straws to set. Once set, run the straws under warm water and the jello “worms” will fall out of the straws ready to be eaten.
OR Strawberry Monsters: Ingredients — strawberries and 85% dark chocolate.
Method — Melt the dark chocolate and place into a piping bag. Pipe the melted dark chocolate onto the strawberries, giving the strawberry some scary looking eyes and a mouth.
Remember living with diabetes can be tiring and as important as it is to control blood glucose levels, the psychological burden of diabetes needs to be considered. Allowing yourself to find the balance and have fun whilst keeping diabetes in check is important too.
Happy Halloween and hopefully these few tips and tricks can help you to enjoy to festivities.
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