How I Celebrate Holidays and Special Events With Type 2 Diabetes

Nikki Nurse doesn’t deprive herself of her favorite foods during the holiday season just because she has Type 2 diabetes.

She works with her diabetes care team to anticipate the holiday events and foods she may encounter so that she can control her blood sugar levels.

Here are a few things she does to have a healthier holiday season with Type 2 diabetes:

• She eats slowly to avoid overeating. Eating slowly and drinking water after your meal may help with digestion. 

• She uses her own plates so she can practice portion control: “That’s one way that I can still participate and be with my family and my friends and enjoy the same things that they’re enjoying,” Nurse says. 

• She drinks water with her meal: “That helps with your digestion,” Nurse says. “And that allows my body to break down all of that sugar in a proper way.” This helps with preventing overeating as well. 

• She uses stylish glassware to encourage hydration: “I feel fancy,” she says. “I have my little gold straws. I just try to create this situation that makes me want to have it more.” This also helps her drink water instead of alcohol.

• She makes a plan to decline certain foods: “I think there’s a way to politely decline food,” Nurse says. For example, she’ll tell them that it looks great but that she already ate.

• She eats a light meal before the event: Having soup or a smoothie and plenty of water helps make sure she doesn’t overeat later.

Nurse will also talk to her doctor before the holidays so she can be prepared. 

“Have an honest, open conversation with them and let them know where you’re going, what types of food might be there, maybe even asking them what you can eat or what you can stay away from,” Nurse says. “Then, enjoy the meal.”

You can read more about Nikki’s experience with Type 2 diabetes here and how she manages her A1C here.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Preeti Parikh, MD

Dr. Preeti Parikh is a board-certified practicing pediatrician in New York City. In addition to overseeing all editorial content at HealthiNation, she sees patients at Westside Pediatrics, is an assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is an American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson.

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