When I was growing up with diabetes, the available insulins made it very difficult to incorporate sweets into the typical “diabetes diet.” I took two shots a day of NPH and Regular insulins—NPH is considered an intermediate-acting insulin, and Regular is short-acting. NPH comes in a vial, is cloudy, and requires mixing to try and make it more consistent. The Regular would cover breakfast and dinner, while the NPH would act as the basal.
What is nice about this system is that you only have to take two shots a day. It’s simple and affordable. However, due to the peak action of the insulins, you must eat meals and sometimes snacks at consistent times. You need to feed the insulin you have given rather than giving insulin based on what you are eating. This is how many manage their diabetes worldwide, as some of the newer insulins available in the U.S. are unavailable where they live.
Halloween treats and other sweets
My parents always wanted me to live the life I wanted and not let diabetes stand in the way. One of the biggest challenges was always Halloween. My parents decided to donate our candy to the local children’s hospital for kids who were there over the holiday, to a dentist, or the local JDRF (now Breakthrough T1D) office. I think we always got a few pieces between my siblings and myself, but we did not have the heaping bowls of candy my children typically bring home each year.
For something different, my parents also committed to giving out non-candy treats each year on Halloween, and they still do to this day, even though I have been eating candy since I got my first pump at age eleven. I still enjoyed Halloween as a child, and many of our close friends and neighbors would make special goody bags for me with little Halloween pencils, stickers, etc. I also remember some people giving me apples, and I have to say, I was never excited, but looking back, I appreciate the thought.
Let the kids be kids
If your child is using rapid-acting insulin as part of their diabetes management, you should be able to incorporate candy into their meal plan. If you are worried about navigating it, check in with your diabetes healthcare team and see what they recommend. You can still take a bunch of the candy haul and donate to a local hospital or other organizations near you. I know many people who have dentist offices who accept candy and may even give back cash or other treats. Also, consider keeping some of the candy, preferably the fruit types, to use as low treatments. In fact, over a decade ago, this study showed that Skittles are just as effective for treating low blood sugar as traditional glucose tablets.
Due to increased food allergies throughout the past decade (or more), many people have participated in the Teal Pumpkin project to provide safe, non-candy treats for kiddos with allergies. We do this every year, and I set out the different bowls with the candy that is safe for peanut allergies, the gluten-free candy, and the toys or other goodies. I am always pleasantly surprised by how many kids choose the non-candy option. It also feels good to uphold my parents’ tradition of ensuring every kid that comes to your house has something to take home.
No matter what you decide to pass out at your home, we at CWD wish you a Happy Halloween! Check out CWD’s other article for more Halloween Tips & Tricks and our Carb Counts for Common Candies resource.
Written and clinically reviewed by Marissa Town, RN, BSN, CDCES
