Don’t let diabetes scare away your child’s fun!

Insulin-dependent diabetes (commonly known as Type 1 or juvenile diabetes) is traditionally diagnosed in children and young adults and occurs when the pancreas does not release insulin. Insulin plays an integral role in regulating and storing blood glucose (blood sugar), the primary source of fuel used in the body. Without proper insulin, cells cannot receive the fuel they need to function properly. Overtime, this can lead to rapid weight loss and malnutrition as well as the detrimental effects of having high levels of blood sugar circulating through the body’s blood vessels.

Being a parent of a child newly diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes can require a great deal of “new” education. Proper meal planning and administration of medication (insulin) play a large part in successfully managing insulin-dependent diabetes. Because of this, parents often fear holiday celebrations, especially Halloween. Fear not! Children with diabetes can safely enjoy any holiday, simply by taking a few extra steps to ensure blood sugar is controlled.

Follow these tips from the American Diabetes Association® to ensure your Halloween celebration is safe as can be:

- Make dressing up in costumes the focus, not candy treats.
- Host a Halloween party yourself, so you control the snacks and treats offered.
- Hand out toy treats rather than candy.
- Have children decide what they will consume ahead of time, so carbohydrates from treats can fit into meal planning goals. See below for the carbohydrate content of a few common trick-or-treat offerings.
- Increase activity level on days of celebration, so treats can be enjoyed without the need of extra insulin.
- Develop a “game plan” for using extra insulin with your child’s physician and registered dietitian.
- Check blood sugar before, during and after events (if appropriate) to ensure level is maintained.

Handle the contents of trick-or-treat sacks accordingly:

- Retain some of the hard candy for use when treating bouts of low blood sugar.

- Let your child keep a set amount of their favorite candy.

- Buy what candy is left over. Give $0.05 for each piece.

Regardless of your child’s diagnosis with insulin-dependent diabetes, your family can still have a fun, successful Halloween celebration. For further information about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association’s website at www.diabetes.org.

How many carbohydrates are in that Halloween candy?

Check out this abbreviated listing provided by Children with Diabetes, Inc. at www.childrenwithdiabetes.com.

CANDY    SIZE/PACKAGE    CARBOHYDRATES (g)
3 Musketeers®    16 gram fun-size bar    12g
Charms® Blow Pop®    1 sucker    14g
Brachs® Candy Corn    15 pieces    25g
Jolly Rancher®    1 piece    4g
Kit Kat® snack-size bar    1, 2-piece bar    9g
Twizzlers® Licorice Twists    3, 6-inches long    23g
M&M’s® Plain Minis®    1 bag    10g
Skittles®    mini pack    18g
Snickers®    20-gram fun-size bar    12g
Starburst®    4 pieces    16g
Tootsie Roll® Pops®    1 pop    15g
Tootsie Rolls®    2 bars    20g

Carrie Taylor is Big Y’s registered dietitian and head of the Living Well Eating Smart program. Have a nutrition question? E-mail her at askcarrie@bigy.com or write Ask Carrie, 2145 Roosevelt Ave, PO Box 7840, Springfield, MA 01102.