Ghosts, ghouls and goblins are suiting up for the yearly pilgrimage through neighborhoods shouting “Trick or Treat!” and begging for sweet treats that are synonymous with Halloween.
But a candy-centric holiday poses challenging questions for parents of children with diabetes. Can they have a mini candy bar? Is the orange and black gooey goodness of a cupcake off limits?
The good news is they can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers — within reason. Parents and kids really have three options for handling Halloween and the sweets that come with it.
• Count carbs
By counting carbohydrates – which your body breaks down into glucose creating fluctuations in blood sugar – kids can enjoy some of the treats Halloween has to offer in moderation. In this option, the child keeps up with how many carbs they are eating and takes, for example, one unit of insulin for every 15 or 20 grams of carbohydrates.
This is an easy option for kids on an insulin pump because they can just dial in an extra dose of insulin to compensate for what they are about to eat. But for kids that take shots, this could prove to be more difficult or inconvenient if they have to go to the school nurse for an extra dose.
• Exchange candy
Parents can trade the child a gift, money or low carb snack for their candy. Parents also can provide a substitute snack for their child if a Halloween party at school is an issue.
• Save for dessert
Kids can savor their Halloween treats without an extra shot or dose of insulin by having them for dessert after dinner. By incorporating a sugary treat into meal time, when a child would normally get a dose of insulin, it eliminates the need for adding doses to their regimen.
The most important thing to remember — parents and children should choose the option that helps diabetic kids enjoy Halloween candy and other holiday treats while sticking to their treatment.
Dr. Ovalle is a Professor of Medicine at the UAB School of Medicine and senior scientist in the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center. He has a very active clinical practice and serves as the director of the Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Diabetes Clinic at UAB. Read his weekly Everyday Health column for an expert’s take on the U.S. diabetes epidemic.