It is that time of year again–time to prepare for the Great Pumpkin and all of the fun (and sometimes) anxiety that Halloween can bring parents. It can be especially stressful for families dealing with diabetes for the first time. When you are new to managing diabetes during a sugar-filled holiday like Halloween, it can feel daunting. But don’t worry—there are ways to ensure your child has a safe and fun experience!
Whether your child is invited to Halloween parties, is attending school events, or trick-or-treating on October 31st, here are a few tips that have helped other parents get through and allowed children to have fun!
Let them eat while they walk
Its okay to let your child eat candy while he/she is out trick or treating. In fact, go ahead and encourage it (as long as usual Halloween safety rules are applied of course–Mom/Dad checks candy or it is from the home of a good family friend).
he excitement of the night, combined with all the walking and running, can lead to some serious low blood sugars. You can help to avoid this by letting your child eat the bars, rockets (Smarties for my US friends), and other treats. Your child will feel “normal” and it will be a fun way to keep blood glucose levels in range.
Use Halloween Treats for Lows
Halloween is the perfect time to stock up on low supplies to use before and after the day. Most treats are packaged in sizes of 9-17 grams of sugar. These mini treats are conveniently sized to carry in your bag and treat lows.
Even if your child doesn’t participate in Halloween events, you can still hit the grocery stores to grab some of these treats at a discount. They’re often much cheaper than buying glucose tablets!
BONUS TIP!
Don’t forget to take advantage of post-Halloween sales! It’s a great time to pick up extra Rockets/Smarties and other small candies that are fast-acting and easy to carry for on-the-go lows..
Incorporate Halloween treats into your meal plan
If your family follows a set meal plan, you can still include some Halloween treats.
For example, a bag of chips is approximately 15g of carbohydrates , so it would be equivalent to a slice of bread or one bread exchange. A snack-sized chocolate bar is approximately 9g of carbohydrate and the equivalent of half of an apple or a fruit exchange.
By integrating these treats into meals or snacks, your child gets to enjoy Halloween while you maintain control over their diet.
Buy the candy back
Another way to deal with the stress of Halloween candy is diabetes is to offer your child cash for his/her candy.
The children can then take the money that they earned collecting candy to purchase a book, game or favourite toy.
Mom and Dad can take the candy to work or save it to enjoy during some downtime when the kids are in bed!
Invite over the Great Pumpkin or the Halloween Witch
Make the Halloween spirit extra magical with a visit from the Great Pumpkin or Halloween Witch. Similar to the candy buy-back method, parents can exchange the candy while the child sleeps, leaving a non-food surprise like a movie pass, book, or another special treat.
Donate extra Halloween candy
Yet another way for our children to learn care and compassion is to take their candy to a local hospital or hostel. Have them share their candy with children who are unable to go out for Halloween.
Halloween is often a fun time for children. Remember that children with diabetes are children first. Use some of the tips above to ensure that your child has a fun and memorable Halloween or let us know what works for you in the comments!
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