Sleeping better for people living with diabetes: Tips for your body and mind.
Sleep is a fundamental need for the body. It affects emotional well-being, cognitive function, daytime performance and physical health. Poor sleep quality can influence weight, appetite and mental health, and has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk. It can also affect your body's sensitivity to insulin1. For most adults, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is optimal, whereas a child can require between 8 and 15 hours of sleep each day1. If you aren't getting the sleep you need, some causes may be caffeine or alcohol consumption, diet...
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(Somewhat) Healthier Choices For Halloween
Candy, caramel apples and chocolate, oh my! At first glance, Halloween would not seem to be diabetes's best friend. Perhaps you even dread its arrival each year and have to fight your natural attraction to the sweets lining store shelves (and their magnetic power over your children). You don’t need to torture yourself like that: enjoying Halloween without going overboard is completely possible! Here are some ideas for kids, young and old. Chocolate. Your best option is dark chocolate—it’s not too sweet and has a low glycemic index. Otherwise, go for wafer-style...
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Spooked By Halloween?
October 31 is fast approaching, but you don’t need to barricade yourself indoors with the lights off, nor do you have to stop your children from celebrating! Adults can have fun too Don't pretend that Halloween is only for children: have fun! Opt for dark chocolate. The higher its cocoa percentage, the lower its glycemic index. Buy lots of candy… that you don’t care for. That way, you can hand out sweets free of temptation. Celebrate differently. Invite your friends to a costume ball...
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Halloween Treats For Grown-Ups
Let children have their candy. Adults can have their own fun! Set up a horror movie marathon Watch or rewatch the classics—Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie—or choose a theme: black and white movies, B movies, vampires, ghosts… there’s no lack of options! Instead of popcorn, prepare raw vegetables or roasted cauliflower for snacking. Invite friends over for a themed dinner Why not make it a potluck? Here are some ideas: ...
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For Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
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Celebrating With Joy… And Moderation!
Thinking about Thanksgiving—which, in Canada, is celebrated on the second Monday of October—and autumn in general never fails to conjure up plenty of images: the last leaves, children’s red noses, a piping-hot cup of tea, a comfy blanket left on the sofa, a roaring fireplace. And above all, a huge meal with relatives and friends! But let’s be honest: that meal doesn’t always include healthy options and ideal foods for those living with diabetes. There’s no lack of images for that, too: the huge turkey with its roasted skin and overflowing stuffing, potatoes drowning in butter, the uncle who falls asleep on the couch having drunk...
Read More (Somewhat) Healthier Choices For Halloween
Candy, caramel apples and chocolate, oh my! At first glance, Halloween would not seem to be diabetes's best friend. Perhaps you even dread its arrival each year and have to fight your natural attraction to the sweets lining store shelves (and their magnetic power over your children). You don’t need to torture yourself like that: enjoying Halloween without going overboard is completely possible! Here are some ideas for kids, young and old. Chocolate. Your best option is dark chocolate—it’s not too sweet and has a low glycemic index. Otherwise, go for wafer-style...
Read More Spooked By Halloween?
October 31 is fast approaching, but you don’t need to barricade yourself indoors with the lights off, nor do you have to stop your children from celebrating! Adults can have fun too Don't pretend that Halloween is only for children: have fun! Opt for dark chocolate. The higher its cocoa percentage, the lower its glycemic index. Buy lots of candy… that you don’t care for. That way, you can hand out sweets free of temptation. Celebrate differently. Invite your friends to a costume ball...
Read More Halloween Treats For Grown-Ups
Let children have their candy. Adults can have their own fun! Set up a horror movie marathon Watch or rewatch the classics—Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie—or choose a theme: black and white movies, B movies, vampires, ghosts… there’s no lack of options! Instead of popcorn, prepare raw vegetables or roasted cauliflower for snacking. Invite friends over for a themed dinner Why not make it a potluck? Here are some ideas: ...
Read More For Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
Read More Celebrating With Joy… And Moderation!
Thinking about Thanksgiving—which, in Canada, is celebrated on the second Monday of October—and autumn in general never fails to conjure up plenty of images: the last leaves, children’s red noses, a piping-hot cup of tea, a comfy blanket left on the sofa, a roaring fireplace. And above all, a huge meal with relatives and friends! But let’s be honest: that meal doesn’t always include healthy options and ideal foods for those living with diabetes. There’s no lack of images for that, too: the huge turkey with its roasted skin and overflowing stuffing, potatoes drowning in butter, the uncle who falls asleep on the couch having drunk...
Read More