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By Petrie Marx, 6 November 2018
Petrie Marx, product actuary at Sanlam Personal Finance says this time of year can be stressful for diabetics as they are out of their normal routine. “November is Diabetes Awareness month where the global spotlight is placed on this chronic disease. It is the perfect time to remind diabetics and their loved ones to take care during the festive season. Managing A1CL levels is always top of mind for diabetics and never more so than during the holidays.” Marx offers a few tips for a diabetes-friendly holiday.
There are myriad ideas online for tweaking traditional festive season food for the particular needs of a diabetic. If you celebrate Christmas, you can find a lot of great ideas on Diabetes UK. Some quick hacks are:
Carbs is the food group with the biggest impact on blood sugar. Choosing carbs wisely to keep blood sugar levels stable is critical during the season.
Consider following these tips from the American Diabetes Association:
While a lot of the holiday plans may revolve around meal times, there are also many great ways to be active. If you are at the coast, pack your body board or take long walks on the beach. If you are home, keep up your gym routine or head to the park for some soccer or cricket with friends and family.
Don’t beat yourself up, we are all human, but if you do overindulge, try to get back on track immediately to avoid getting into a situation where you need medical help.
Before going away on holiday, make sure your medical aid is up-to-date and check which hospitals in the area you are travelling to are on your plan.
If you are travelling to a new location, find a GP and 24-hour medical room and familiarise yourself with the location so that you can get efficiently treated if needed and get back to the holiday fun! This holiday season, ensure you and your family are properly protected, no matter what.