Handling Diabetes Throughout the Season of Indian Festivals.

As the primary causes of death and disability among those with diabetes, complications like heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease can be avoided with year-round diabetes management. However, it can be particularly difficult to do this during festival season.

Festivals like “Diwali” revolve around food, which often consists of large dinners with an abundance of fried, high-fat foods, and desserts that are high in calories and loaded with sugar and ghee. Additionally, he most popular presents given and received during Diwali are sweets and calorically dense dry fruits. Most individuals, including those who have diabetes, may overindulge in foods high in calories and sugar, which might affect their blood glucose levels.

Blood sugar levels can be impacted by both fasting and feasting. Not eating for lengths of time can result in hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, while overindulging in food, particularly sugary and fatty foods, can produce hyperglycemia or elevated blood sugar levels. Diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal condition, and dehydration may occur due to irregular eating patterns. To avoid complications, some individuals might even need to change their diabetes prescription dosage.

For many people, festivals can bring stressful times, raising blood sugar levels. It could be difficult for patients to maintain a regular sleep or exercise routine. Diabetes patients may also end up missing dosages and inadequately monitoring their blood sugar levels.

Here are some pointers to help you follow your diabetes treatment plan and lead a healthy lifestyle:

• Throughout the day, maintain a regular, healthy diet. Eat meals on schedule and stay away from high-calorie and sugary foods.
• To reduce your likelihood of overindulging in the decadent festival food later, try consuming nutritious, low-fat snacks prior to the festivities and smaller portions of the festival cuisine.
• Consider preparing your own food.
  1. Use skimmed or low-fat milk when making desserts.
  2. Reduce the number of components. For example, cut the sugar by half.
  3. Eat baked goods instead of fried ones.
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and low-sugar beverages.
• Continue to engage in regular physical activity. Prior to participating in any celebratory events, try working out in the morning.
• Take medication regularly, as directed. Set up reminders to prevent missing dosess. If you need to change the dosage of your medicine, consult your doctor.
• Regularly check blood sugar levels, particularly after extended fasts.
• Watch out for problems like hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and so forth. Patients and their families should be aware of potential issues so that they can notify their doctor right away.
• Reduce stress by meditating regularly.
• Get enough sleep and rest.^(57,.,61)