There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning colors, and it’s getting darker earlier, which means Halloween is on the horizon. While we’re excited for the costumes, the movies, and all of the other fun that the holiday brings, it can also cause some anxiety for those who are diabetic. Candy is a major part of Halloween, but consuming too much can have serious consequences for diabetics. Here are a few tips we’ve pulled together to manage diabetes during Halloween.

1. Be Prepared

Make a plan ahead of time, setting boundaries and expectations either for yourself or your child. By helping them understand the importance of keeping candy to a minimum, you’ll be able to avoid harmful situations. Additionally, creating a plan means that you’ll know what meals and other snacks will be on the menu — in addition to candy — so you can ensure there’s a (somewhat) balanced diet in place. 

2. Make a Balanced Breakfast

While many people believe that diabetes means you can’t eat certain foods, what it mostly means is that you just need to stick to a healthier diet (as all of us should). On Halloween, start your day off with nutrient-rich foods like eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, multi-grain avocado toast, or nuts. 

What can also help is taking a natural supplement that balances out your glucose levels and prevents insulin spikes. This Blood Sugar Support one is great for keeping your blood sugar at optimum levels. 

3. Eat Fun-Size Candy

The easiest way to make sure that glucose levels don’t get too high is to consume fun-size, mini, or snack versions of your favorite candies. However, this may not be as easy to do if your child comes back from Trick-or-Treating with a bag full of candy of various sizes. But with a simple online search, you should be able to find out the carbohydrate and sugar amounts in each candy. 

As a general rule, 15 grams of carbohydrates is a good amount because it can raise blood sugar a little if needed, but not so much that there’s a crash. That being said, you may be able to allow for a bit more candy by looking at additional factors, such as other food that’s been eaten. But just to be safe, only let yourself or your kids eat a moderate amount of sugar, especially if they’ve been on a strict diet up until now. The extra sugar all at once could throw off their systems and cause problems. 

4. Keep Candy Out of Sight

Whether you’re doing it for you or your child, keeping candy out of sight can also keep it out of mind — which means risk of overindulgence. This can be particularly important in the days that follow Halloween, not just the holiday itself. 

5. Donate Extra Candy

If holding onto the candy is too tempting or if your child knows where the candy is hidden and is tempted to steal it, the best option may be to get those sweets out of the house sooner rather than later. There are plenty of businesses that accept candy donations locally and may give you something in return. Dentist offices often accept donations after Halloween, so it might be worth checking with your dentist or others in your area. 

Get Ready for Halloween Fun

It can be incredibly tough for you or especially your kids, to watch others who aren’t diabetic enjoy eating lots of candy on Halloween. To cheer them or yourself up, it can be nice to make homemade treats that are diabetic-friendly or do something special that doesn’t involve candy, whether it be a spooky craft or a fun game like “Pin the broom on the witch.” Whatever you decide to do on Halloween, know that the day will still be full of fun, sweets, and fond memories — even if it looks a little different than usual. Being healthy is the most important part of the holiday. 

For added help managing your blood sugar during Halloween check out Level Glucose Management. Level is an all-natural, clinically-tested supplement to help manage and lower blood glucose in both short and long-term use. Learn more today.