Having a Diabetes-Friendly Valentine's Day
Whether your Valentine is your spouse, your child or your best friend, Feb. 14 is synonymous with sugar.
To have a diabetes-friendly Valentine's Day, then, it takes some planning ahead and prep work to make sure you can indulge in the fun without going overboard.
So if you're celebrating as a family or spending some time with your one and only, make sure you do so safely.
Drinks
One perk of Valentine's Day? It pairs well with champagne - which tends to be low in sugar and carbohydrates (depending on the variety).
If you're cozying up to the bar with your sweetheart, avoid chocolate-infused specialty cocktails and stick with beverages like dry white wine, red wine or spirits (just avoid sugary mixers).
Also make sure to eat something (preferably protein paired with some healthy fat) if you're drinking alcoholic beverages - this will keep your blood sugar more stable.
Dinner
A V-Day dinner can be fun to cook together, and luckily it's not hard to make a romantic diabetes-friendly meal. Check out our collection of diabetic recipes.
If you're eating out, say no to the bread basket and opt for a protein-based dish with vegetables (ask your server to replace starches, like rice or potatoes, with an extra serving of veggies).
Dessert
Candy doesn't have to be completely off limits on Valentine's Day, but you should know how much you can safely consume without disrupting your blood sugar.
Read nutrition labels and monitor your blood glucose closely if you are going to indulge.
Homemade desserts can also be a great way to splurge without worrying about counting calories or carbs at a restaurant. Try one of our dessert recipes, which are diabetic-friendly, festive and decadent.
Gift Ideas
Another good way to have a diabetes-friendly Valentine's Day is to focus less on the food and more on fun experiences or non-food gifts. Instead of chocolates and candy, treat your loved one to a day at the spa, a nice piece of jewelry or an outing somewhere new.
For the Kids
If you have a child with diabetes, Valentine's Day can take on a whole new meaning. How can you help you kids navigate the sugar-filled holiday?
It may be good to check in with your child's teacher to see if candy will be allowed in the classroom and, if so, how you can best handle the situation.
Diabetic kids can also enjoy many sugar-free candies, which are available at most large chain grocery stores or can be bought online.
Help your child join in on the fun safely, or provide a non-food treat you can enjoy together, like a trip to the movies or a new toy.
Source: Joslin.org
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...