{"id":6519,"date":"2019-10-24T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T13:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=6519"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:34:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:34:04","slug":"halloween-and-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/halloween-and-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage Halloween candy for children with diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Halloween can be a scary time\u2014especially for parents of children with diabetes. Because along with all those trick-or-treating treasures (chocolates! lollipops! jelly beans!) comes the increased risk of dangerous blood sugar spikes. That doesn\u2019t mean that children with diabetes have to miss out on all the spooky fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to manage Halloween and children with diabetes<\/span><\/h2>\n

With careful planning and a little creativity, you and your child can enjoy all of the thrills (and none of the chills) of the spooky season. Here\u2019s how:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Eat healthy ahead of time<\/span><\/h3>\n

While a healthy diet is an important part of any child\u2019s diabetes maintenance program, dietitian<\/span> LeeAnn Weintraub<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>MPH, RD,<\/span> recommends being extra vigilant on All Hallows\u2019 Eve.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is helpful to make sure that the meals on Halloween are balanced, which means they contain high-fiber carbs, vegetables, protein, and some healthy fat,\u201d she says, adding: \u201cDon’t go trick-or-treating on an empty stomach\u2014have a well-balanced dinner before heading out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And while it may be tempting to limit sugar intake leading up to Halloween in order to mitigate the effects of all those sweet treats, it\u2019s a bad idea, says <\/span>Lainey Younkin, MS, RD, LDN, founder of<\/span> Lainey Younkin Nutrition<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKids should not cut back on carbohydrates the day before in an effort to \u2018save up,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cIt’s important to keep carbohydrate intake consistent at meals and snacks and in line with how many carbs his or her doctor or dietitian has recommended.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And one more thing: Be on the lookout for glucose levels actually <\/span>dropping<\/span><\/i> from all of that added activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKids who are not eating candy but doing a lot of extra playing and walking from trick-or-treating may be at risk for blood glucose getting too low,\u201d says Weintraub. \u201cA higher level of monitoring might be required to control levels.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Devise a game plan for treats on Halloween night<\/span><\/h3>\n

Even the most level-headed, disciplined kid can get caught up in the holiday spirit, which is why you shouldn\u2019t leave children to divvy up their trick-or-treating haul unsupervised.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChildren with diabetes can definitely enjoy their Halloween candy but need to count the number of carbohydrates in the candy and factor it into the amount their doctor has recommended they eat per meal,\u201d says <\/span>Younkin<\/span>. \u201cThey may have to adjust their insulin so talk to the doctor ahead of time to ask how to properly adjust the dose.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weintraub recommends one fun method for candy consumption: \u201cThe portion of candy might be determined based on the age of the child and other factors. For example, maybe one piece per year of their age up to a certain limit,\u201d she says. \u201c[However], if blood sugar is running high it might make the most sense to delay eating Halloween candy for a later time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However you decide to dole out their prized stash, make sure to do it with a positive spirit. \u201cYou don’t want a child hiding sweets and eating them in secret, so parents should stay neutral\u2014not making the candy seem bad and not making the child feel bad that they have diabetes and can’t enjoy candy like other children,\u201d says Younkin.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Consider alternative treats<\/span><\/h3>\n

Non-edible Halloween treats<\/span><\/h4>\n

Despite what candy corporations would have you believe, there\u2019s plenty of fun to be had on Halloween with little to no sugar involved, says Weintraub.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love the idea of non-edible Halloween treats like games, stickers, pencils, vampire teeth, etc., which can be incorporated to heighten the excitement while focusing less on candy and sweets,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also incentivize your child not to eat candy with this Halloween hack from Younkin. \u201cParents can create a \u2018trade-in\u2019 system where their child gives them some of their candy and in exchange, the child gets to pick out a toy or book,\u201d she says. \u201cThis idea can be used whether a child has diabetes or not!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The no-candy movement has actually been gaining momentum in recent years, with the<\/span> Teal Pumpkin Project<\/span><\/a> emerging as a result. The idea is simple: By placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep, you signal to neighbors that you hand out non-food treats\u2014such as small toys and trinkets\u2014helping to make trick-or-treating a more inclusive experience for kids with food allergies and other dietary restrictions. It\u2019s just one more fun way to celebrate Halloween without all the sweets!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>5 tips for handling your child’s food allergy on Halloween<\/a><\/p>\n

Diabetes safe Halloween treats<\/span><\/h4>\n

And not every edible treat has to be candy. If you\u2019re hosting a Halloween party at your home, you can make all sorts of festive snacks that have low- or no-added sugar.<\/span><\/p>\n