3 Ways to Manage Your Diabetes this (COVID-19) Holiday Season!
World Diabetes Day is next Saturday, November 14th, and Thanksgiving is less than two weeks from that date, and then comes December Festivities. We at EN&T believe it is time to talk about how you could manage your diabetes during this upcoming Holiday Season in the mix of COVID-19/Flu Season, anxiety, and stress that comes with the times we are currently living in. It does not have to be difficult to manage diabetes, but it is sure easier to handle when the preparation occurs.
To control your diabetes this Holiday Season consider these 3 ways to manage your well-being.
1) Plan Ahead
a) Plan, Plan, Plan. Get a notebook or open up a notepad or whatever tool you like to use and start jotting down what you will be doing and where you are eating and what you actually should not be eating to spike your sugar levels. This year, be mindful of what you put on your plate and how many times you want to go back for more but know that you are full and suffer from stress.
b) Plan to drink water, lots of water before you begin eating a meal. Water will make you feel full faster, which is quite helpful in curbing your appetite.
c) Eat meals on smaller plates instead of large ones, or better yet, use a bowl or jar to keep your portion sizes in check.
d) Decide on low calorie carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and veggies instead of high calorie breads.
2) Exercise
a) Decide now or commit to a certain amount of time exercising and commit to it no less than 3x a week. If you know you will only be able to participate in 30 minutes of physical activity three days a week and do not want to gain weight, it is essential to watch your food intake or add more days and minutes to your work-out. Be mindful of your health and how important it is to keep moving even when your body says you do not want to. Remember, you are an adult, and you are in charge of your health. Exercise can be a lifesaver, and because you love you, you must partake in it. Instead of meeting up with friends to do things unproductive, meet up to walk and talk or jog and talk or get a work out in together.
b) Consider rewarding yourself for making an exercise plan and sticking to it. You deserve to be happy for fulfilling your goals.
3) Rest/Meditation
a) Whether a diabetic or not, it is imperative for everyone to get a proper amount of rest to function at an optimum level every day. Rest is essential in managing blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Resetting our body system every day is quite important to our overall health. Anywhere between 7 to 9 hours of rest is needed daily to reboot correctly.
b) Meditation is a form of rest for the mind; it helps to reduce anxiety and stress but increase consciousness. Be still and go within this holiday season as often as you can to calm your total body from the world's stressors around you. Avoid those who cause you unwanted stress as much as possible and decide that nothing and no one is more important than your own health.
If you have diabetes would like to avoid spikes in your numbers, consider being mindful of how you spend your time this Holiday Season before hand by coming up with a plan, exercising, and resting more. Take time out now to be prepared for whatever may come your way this month, and next month, that will knock you off getting and keeping your health in check. Avoid triggers that will make you go off course. You can do this successfully because you are in control of you.
If you need some help improving your well-being, please reach out to one of our Certified Holistic Wellness Coaches experienced in this area. Contact Us!