5 Halloween tips for diabetic kids

Halloween is when most children get a hall pass for eating their weight in sugar.

But for diabetic kids, the sweets-filled holiday can pose more than a few challenges.

Tips for Diabetic Kids

Parents can navigate the sweet-treat circuit with more finesse by following these simple tips.

1. Know your swaps. Sure, you can't control what type of candy the neighbors drop into your child's pillowcase, but you can sort through the loot at the end of the night to determine which picks are more diabetic-friendly than others. A small Kit-Kat bar, for instance, packs fewer calories and sugar (carbs) than a snack-size Reese's peanut butter cup.
2. Plan ahead. Talk to your children ahead of time about how much candy they will be allowed to eat. If you have clear boundaries about what is healthy and appropriate, the kids will be less likely to have a meltdown when you confiscate their candy after a few indulgences.
3. Work out an exchange program. If your child ends up with lots of extra candy, work out a type of "exchange" program in which kids can trade in a piece of candy for some other type of treat, such as a toy, an hour of television or a play-date with a friend.
4. Donate. Set a healthy example for diabetic kids by giving away extra candy to a good cause, like sending it to a local food shelter or to troops overseas.
5. Mix it up. Halloween doesn't have to be strictly about candy. Create new traditions with diabetic kids that revolve around carving pumpkins, playing games, working on art projects or watching Halloween movies. This can help them feel like they're participating in the holiday without being denied the fun.

Source: Joslin