The holidays can be a stressful time. Besides all the hustle and bustle of the season, stress surrounding your diabetes may be affecting you as well.

This time of year is especially hard for people, causing seasonal depression and anxiety.

Managing your diabetes doesn’t have to be another thing to worry about. We put together five helpful tips to help you have a healthy and happy holiday season.

Choose foods wisely. 

Plan ahead! Just like you’re making social plans for the season, plan your food intake as well. If you know you have a sweet tooth, plan to eat fewer carbs during dinner and save them for dessert. Choose your favourite and have a small portion or have small bites of several desserts. On the other hand, if you’re a lover of mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing and other dinner carbohydrates, skip dessert all together or have fruit instead.

Drink lots of water. 

Start the night before by drinking a glass of water before bed. Then, wake up early in the morning and begin hydrating as soon as you wake up. Keep your water bottle handy and be sure to refill it often!

Don’t forget to take your meds.

Set reminders in your phone or put a post-it on the fridge. It’s important you don’t fall off track with your medications during the holidays, especially if you’re eating foods you don’t regularly eat. If you do happen to fall off track, make sure you set yourself straight asap.

Check & document your blood sugar.

Monitor your blood sugar when waking up, before eating and after eating.

Stay active.

Get a gym session in, take a walk after dinner, whatever works and wherever you can fit it in. Staying active will help keep your blood sugar stable and in your target range.