Diwali is a time to enjoy and have foods that you wouldn’t regularly eat at other times of the year. But being a time of celebration, many traditional Diwali foods tend to be high in saturated fat, free (added) sugars and salt than our usual diets.
If you have diabetes, or are close to someone who does, you may find that this time of year can make managing your diabetes more difficult, with so much tempting Diwali food and drink to choose from. Luckily, we’ve got loads of helpful information and healthy choices to help you enjoy yourself throughout the festive season whilst also looking after your diabetes.
How to look after your diabetes during Diwali?
Make sure you’re stocked up on all the medications you need. Keep your Glucose meter or CGM supplies with you because the shops might be closed or there may be supply disruptions. If you become unwell during this time, we have advice on managing your diabetes when you’re unwell. If you need urgent medical advice then call us.
Three simple tips will help you to enjoy Diwali without worrying about sugar and weight
1. Prefer Natural sugars over artificial
Prefer Fruits and Vegetables over refined sugars
2. Monitor your sugar to avoid high and low sugars
You can use BG meters or CGM to check the sugars. one or two high readings are ok but they should not remain high for long periods
3. Stay Active
After you eat sweets, don't forget 45 mins of exercise every day. You can split it into 3 sessions of 15 minutes after every meal.
And finally, make healthy choices (but still enjoy yourself)!