Type 1 diabetes and marriage: Tips for your wedding and honeymoon

You said "yes." Congratulations! Now it's time to plan a brilliant wedding and the greatest honeymoon of all time.

As the partner of someone with type 1 diabetes (T1D), you may be wondering about the best way to plan for and support your partner during these celebratory events. Thankfully, there are a number of stress-free strategies for managing the highs and lows associated with the happiest days of your and your spouse's life.

Here are helpful insights around balancing type 1 diabetes and marriage, as well as tips for making your once-in-a-lifetime event a success.

Preplan to manage type 1 diabetes and marriage

The lead-up to a wedding is an exciting time full of tastings and walkthroughs. This is also the time to enlist the help of your (and your partner's) friends and family. Before the hustle and bustle of the big day, choose one person to be the keeper of your partner's diabetes kit and have glucose tablets or gel on hand to manage low blood sugar. If your partner wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), have a second person monitor the associated app to let you or your partner know if they're running high or low.

It's also a good idea to create a signal (like a hand wave or touching a wrist or shoulder) to alert your helpers if your partner begins showing signs of low or high blood sugar. Dedicate time in advance of the ceremony to walk helpers through a step-by-step back-up plan.

When selecting gifts for your wedding registry, add health and wellness items to support T1D. Include requests for manicures, pedicures, meals from a personal chef, diabetic travel luggage, healthy snack boxes and gym memberships.

As a partner, consider things you can do ahead of time to make your soon-to-be spouse's wedding events more enjoyable and stress-free. Perhaps you can create a signature cocktail for the reception or rehearsal dinner or make special arrangements for food for their bachelorette or bachelor party. If your bride-to-be is planning to sit in a hairstylist's chair all morning, arrange for snacks to be delivered. Surprise your partner with these thoughtful ideas.

Enjoy a stress-free wedding day

If fingersticks are part of the wedding day, a wrist corsage with red material or a red pocket-handkerchief can protect clothing from blood splatters. A tailor can make alternations to add an inside pocket for an insulin pump. Decorative, sweat-proof adhesives made for insulin pumps and CGMs can be worn under wedding attire.

Also, consider using a small cooler to keep insulin cool. Place it in an easily accessible area, and ensure your partner and helpers know where to find it. Add a cold compress to the cooler as well, in case you or your partner become sweaty, dizzy or feel faint.

Depending on your wedding plans — whether a small intimate celebration, a large family reception or a destination wedding — meeting with the caterer or chef on the big day is essential. Ensure the meal aligns with your requests, so that T1D doesn't interrupt mingling, dinner or dancing. Ask for food samples, alcohol or wine in the planning stages so that you can test blood sugar and know what to expect.

Have your cake and eat it too

The thought of combining a wedding cake with type 1 diabetes and a marriage ceremony may give you cold feet. But there's no need to fret! There are many creative options for a wedding cake, such as offering a variety of small desserts or providing two different cakes.

Whether or not your partner with T1D can enjoy dessert is a common wedding question. According to the American Diabetes Association, they can. "The key to sweets is to have a very small portion and save them for special occasions," notes the source.

What better special occasion is there than your own wedding? There are many healthy, diabetes-friendly dessert recipes you can use as a starting point for planning to have your cake and eat it, too. From chocolate treats to raspberry and banana mousse to low-carb cheesecake, you're sure to find delightful options for your guests.

Experience your honeymoon to the fullest

Planning for a honeymoon is a great adventure made easier with attention to detail. Preparation is in order no matter if you're going on a relaxing beach vacation, sight-seeing tour or a sweetheart escape. Be sure to carry extra supplies and have access to a pharmacy for easy refills. Aerobic activities like walking or swimming will likely reduce blood sugar, and remember to plan for foot care when traveling to minimize the potential for foot injuries or blisters.

The honeymoon excursions may leave you feeling drunk with love. While it's a romantic honeymoon activity to cuddle up next to your partner with a glass of wine for a stunning sunset, drinking alcohol in the evening may result in low blood sugar the next morning. Remind your partner to be extra attentive the morning after a spirited honeymoon activity or late-night wedding celebration. Breakfast in bed can also be a memorable and romantic indulgence!

Interested in getting a CGM device through insurance to measure your highs and lows? Learn more from Edgepark.