What you eat affects many different aspects of your life. This is especially true for people with diabetes. For diabetics, a poor diet can lead to a number of health-related issues, including foot complications and problems affecting the heart, kidneys, and eyes. The best way to maintain a healthy body and prevent diabetic foot problems is to control your blood sugar by eating well. This can be difficult to do during the holidays, but it’s not impossible.
Here are five tips to help you get through the holidays:
1. Avoid standing by the food table. If you find yourself at a holiday party where different foods are set out for you to grab as you please, the best thing you can do is to prepare a plate for yourself and move away from the buffet table. When you grab finger foods at random and don’t actually see all of your food laid out on a plate, it can be easy to lose track of how much you’re eating.
2. Eat foods that are good for you first. Fill your plate with healthy options, such as vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, to help satisfy your hunger and avoid eating sweets and fatty foods that can elevate your blood sugar.
3. Choose your “cheat” foods wisely. It’s okay to deviate from your regular diet once in awhile, especially at this time of the year. Just be sure to pick items ahead of time and plan to eat them on separate occasions, if possible.
4. Skip the alcohol. This simple step will allow you to cut down on unnecessary calories.
5. Don’t forget to exercise. Eating healthy is important if you have diabetes, but so is exercising daily. It can help you lower your blood sugar and lose weight, in addition to strengthening your bones. Exercising before attending a holiday party (even just a 15-minute walk), can also help change your mindset when it comes to choosing the foods you eat.
If you have diabetes, don’t forget to get regular diabetic foot care screenings. To schedule an appointment for a podiatric consult, call us at 210-479-3233.
