Diabetes and the holidays: Healthy holiday traditions for kids

Diabetes is an insulin production issue — not a joy production issue. Diabetes and the holidays mean taking diabetes into consideration but still having a fantastic time celebrating with friends and family.

Spending the holidays with a special insulin-deficient little one? Whether you're shopping for your child, a younger relative, or a friend's child, here are a few trinkets, treats, and traditions that can bring a little extra joy this holiday season.

Deck the halls with diabetes

Even though diabetes is often a serious condition, there are ways to get a little silly and festive with diabetes. If your family enjoys visits from an Elf on the Shelf, consider having your Elf checking his blood sugar while sitting next to a plate of elf-sized cookies, or tuck that Elf neatly inside your butter compartment (where your family's stash of insulin most likely lives).

If you're feeling really ambitious, you can take those empty insulin vials from the last few months and create a string of insulin bottle holiday lights! All you have to do is pop the little bulbs through the squishy rubber top of the empty vials.

Weave diabetes into holiday traditions

Is everyone in your family into the wearable health device craze? Lean into the fitness-tracking frenzy as a family by creating exercise challenges inside your house or pairing with fellow people with diabetes that you've befriended. Or, if tracking steps isn't your thing, consider a December reading challenge as a family and work some diabetes-related titles into the mix.

There are some great books about diabetes available — type "children's diabetes books" into Google and you can find a ton of great options for your holiday reading list! Some fun titles to check out include "A Magic Ride in Foozbah-Land," "Taking Diabetes to School," and "Year One with Type One."

For families who have the capacity to give during the holiday season, consider making a donation to a diabetes organization that you feel deserves the financial boost. There are many nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and other diabetes-related philanthropic efforts that would benefit from your support. Spending some time with your children and having them help select the charity or organization that really speaks to them is a great way to teach kids about the importance of giving back, especially during the holidays.

Serve up low-carb snacks

From bacon-wrapped meatballs to deviled eggs and cheesy spinach crackers to baked brie, there are hundreds of low-carb choices to pack your holiday buffet table. Consider serving Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites and Bang Bang Cauliflower as well as these savory Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Sweet treats can still be served without too much blood sugar concern, especially if you're making baking swaps like almond flour and sugar substitutes. Give these low-carb Keto Cookies a try and prepare yourself to be amazed.

For little ones, healthy options like cheese sticks, celery and peanut butter, and veggie kabobs really hit the spot! And no matter what you serve, including a cute carb-count card next to each snack helps kids and adults alike dose their insulin to match their food choices.

Give the gift of diabetes swag

Dozens of lifestyle companies are creating gorgeous products that make life with diabetes easier — and also more fashionable. The Myabetic line of bags is the perfect holiday gift for those on the move, and they offer a slate of functional, fabulous, and fun options for kids living with diabetes.

There are also medical overlay tape companies, like StayPut Medical, Pump Peelz, and ExpressionMed, that help diabetes devices improve their adhesive life while also adding some flair. (Your child can cover their pump with cute snowflakes or add some designer doughnuts to their glucose meter.) These companies provide designs that are filled with joy and can add a little boost of hope and happiness to day-to-day diabetes management.

You can even find diabetes-themed T-shirts, like those from the DiaBeTees shop and others on Etsy, to provide a diabetes-related smile. And if you're looking to find a cute, snuggly stuffed pancreas to give a hug to — or to throw, if that's helpful — the team at I Heart Guts has plush pancreases by the pile for purchase.

But most of all, make a point to have fun! Diabetes doesn't have to be the Grinch at your holiday festivities. With a little creativity, your family can successfully balance diabetes and the holidays. So go ahead and deck the halls for a festive season.

Looking for other information around balancing diabetes and living life to the fullest? Check out the library of insightful articles on the Edgepark Health Insights blog.