ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Holidays pose a challenge in maintaining healthy blood-sugar levels for the 18 million U.S. adults with have diabetes.
"We are all exposed to a lot more food, a lot more sweets, a lot more alcohol and a lot more stress," says Cecilia Sauter, director of the University of Michigan Health System Diabetes Education Program. "For people with diabetes, they really need to watch portion size, when they're drinking and how much, and pay attention to how stress affects their blood sugar levels."
Sauter suggests:
-- Plan ahead: If invited to a party call ahead to find out what they plan to serve.
-- Count the carbs: Carbohydrates are what really affect blood sugar.
-- Sugar-free isn't always carb-free.
-- Check blood sugar before cocktails: Alcohol can cause low blood sugar.
-- Make sure someone knows you've got diabetes: The symptoms of low blood sugar and being drunk are pretty much the same.
-- Walk after your meal: That's when most of the sugar is in the blood stream, and exercise will have the greatest impact on lowering blood sugar.
