Halloween Advice for Kids with Diabetes

Oct 31, 2011
Wendy A.M. Prosser

Halloween can be fun for everyone - Photograph by Anonymous

For parents of children with diabetes, planning ahead is the trick to happy - and healthy - Halloween treats.

While some creativity on the part of the parents might be needed, there is no reason why a child with diabetes should not enjoy Halloween as much as his or her friends.

Plan Ahead for Halloween When Your Child has Diabetes

Dr Kenneth McCormick, Pediatric Endocrinologist and Senior Scientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Diabetes Center, agrees. “[Children with diabetes] can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers – within reason," he says in a university news release.

The key is to plan ahead. The Joslin Diabetes Center advises parents to discuss trick-or-treating with their child in advance, as children are more likely to follow a plan they have helped create. Edible treats should be worked into the child’s diabetes meal plan, or the parents should ensure that he or she gets enough insulin to cover the extra carbohydrates. When there are lots of sweets and chocolate around, it is important to keep track of what is eaten and respond accordingly.

It is not advisable to let any child go trick-or-treating on his or her own, but this is especially true for kids with diabetes. If you cannot be there yourself, check that your child’s friends and the accompanying adults are aware of his or her diabetes, and know what to do if a hypoglycemic episode occurs. Give the adults your contact number in case of problems.

Tips for Healthy Trick-or-treating

If your child eats his or her sweets while out and about, it can be difficult to know how many he or she has had – and what diabetes control measures might be needed afterwards. Encourage kids to be honest about what they have eaten, or persuade them to keep their treats until they get home, where they can be shared with friends and siblings, saved for dessert after dinner, or added to the child’s lunchbox over the next few days. Any left-over candy can be put away for later.

An alternative to counting carbohydrates is to exchange sweets for other treats.

“Parents can trade the child a gift, money or low-carb snack for their candy...[or] provide a substitute snack for their child if a Halloween party at school is an issue,” Dr McCormick suggests. “We have been advising parents to do this for many, many years, and it is a solution that continues to work.”

Another possibility is to involve your child with diabetes in an activity that does not involve sweets, such as Halloween games, arts and crafts projects, or making candy-free Halloween snacks.

Diabetes No Reason Not to Enjoy Halloween

With a little careful preparation, parents can ensure their child with diabetes has as much fun at Halloween as any other trick-or-treater, while still keeping on track with their management programme.