Newswise — It is time to scare away the myth that says children with diabetes can't enjoy Halloween because of their disease. The truth is they can still enjoy sweets as long as they keep their meal plan in check and follow their health provider's orders. Children with diabetes can enjoy any holiday—and the traditional fodder—by planning ahead. With careful planning and some creativity, sweet treats can fit into any diabetes management plan.
"Managing diabetes requires daily planning -- making sure that food intake, exercise and insulin levels are in balance to maintain blood glucose control. By incorporating flexibility into diabetes treatment plans, Halloween can be just as fun for kids with diabetes as for other children," explains Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of Joslin Diabetes Center's Pediatric and Adolescent Section and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
Carbohydrate counting is important all year round for people with diabetes, but it can be especially critical during Halloween and other holidays when treats are especially bountiful, Dr. Laffel advises. Youngsters and parents should calculate the grams of carbohydrates ("carbs" ) in treats and, if needed, use extra insulin, such as rapid acting insulin, to match extra food intake and keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. For example, one "fun size" chocolate bar contains about 15 grams of carb, which is equivalent to the amount of carbohydrate in one-half cup of potatoes.
Joslin experts also suggest offering other healthy holiday treats for kids with diabetes, including "ants on a log" (celery, peanut butter and raisins), carrot sticks and dip, pretzels and party mix, or fresh apples. Some alternative, sugarless trick-or-treat giveaways include crayons, stickers and sugarless gum.
To make the holiday season a bit brighter for kids with diabetes, Joslin offers programs and other fun and healthy ways to celebrate, such as Joslin's annual Halloween costume party for children with diabetes and their families, set for Oct. 29 in Boston. For more Halloween tips, including a handy list of nutrition information on popular candies, check out Joslin's Web site at: http://www.joslin.org/772_2243.asp.
"Joslin provides helpful information for families about how to deal with diabetes during the holiday season because of the additional stresses and challenges that arise," says Margie Lawlor, M.S., C.D.E., Coordinator of Pediatric Research and Education at Joslin. "The most important thing for parents to remember is that children with diabetes should not feel deprived, as that can lead to other issues such as sneaking or eating too much candy. Allowing them to be involved in all aspects of the holiday season will help to avoid those situations, making the holidays enjoyable for everyone."
About Joslin's Pediatric and Adolescent Services
Joslin's Pediatric Program cares for over 2,000 pediatric patients, including up to half of the young people with diabetes in Massachusetts. Joslin's pediatric patients benefit from JoslinCareTM standards for individualized diabetes care, a medically-proven program that maps for each patient and family a customized approach to the care, education, and support they need to stay on a lifelong pathway to health. Joslin's experienced pediatric team provides a wide range of patient care and family support services, from programs for pre-schoolers and their families to diabetes camping programs for children to programs for teens. The pediatric staff includes board-certified pediatric endocrinologists, pediatric nurse practitioners, pediatric diabetes nurse educators, pediatric nutritionists, child psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, exercise physiologists and care ambassadors. The physicians are on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and are members of the staff of Children's Hospital Boston. For more information about Joslin's pediatric services, please call (617) 732-2603.
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