Watching Your Blood Sugar This Thanksgiving? You Can Still Have Pie.
One question I want you to ask at your next visit is, “When was the last time we checked my blood sugar?” November 14 is World Diabetes Day, and with Thanksgiving coming up, it’s a good time to talk about both getting checked and what to do with that information when you sit down to eat.
When should you get your blood sugar checked?
You can feel fine and still have prediabetes. That’s why I’d ask about screening if you’re 35 or older. If you’ve had diabetes during pregnancy or have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, it’s worth asking sooner.
One test we use is an A1C. It gives us an idea of what your blood sugar has been averaging over the last two to three months. You generally don’t need to fast for it. If your A1C is 5.7% to 6.4%, that’s in the prediabetes range. Finding it early gives us time to talk about changes that can help lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
With the holidays right around the corner many patients ask me how to balance their blood sugar and still enjoy the holidays. Below are some helpful hints that I follow myself!
So what do you do at Thanksgiving?
Start with vegetables, fruit, and protein. Put some roasted vegetables, green beans, or salad on your plate first. Add fresh fruit if it’s available. Then make sure you have a good serving of something protein-rich, like turkey, chicken, or lentils.
Pick the one thing you really want. If you look forward to your family’s green chile stuffing every year, put some on your plate.
Take a small spoonful of the other dishes you’d like to try. A little mashed potato, a bite of sweet potato casserole, or a spoonful of mac and cheese lets you taste a few things. If you’re still hungry afterward, you can go back for more.
Dessert: If what you really want is pumpkin pie, save room and skip something fatty/sugary on the menu and enjoy it after dinner. You can also skip the holiday dessert that day
and ask to take a piece home. Save it for the following day when you've had a more balanced, blood sugar friendly meal.
Left-Overs: If you have left overs, try to keep the more balanced, protein foods like turkey and give the unhealthier foods like casseroles away.
Happy Diabetes awareness month and Thanksgiving from the Cottonwood Family!
K. Boylan
If you already have diabetes and your meals are going to be at different times over the holidays, bring that up with us. That’s especially worth talking through if you take insulin. We can go over what makes sense for your medications and your schedule.
Kate | Cottonwood Family Medicine, AlbuquerqueTo schedule a visit, call (505) 207-9044.
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