Here are some tricks and tips for enjoying Halloween with type 1 diabetes. Learn how to make school parties and trick-or-tricking go more smoothly.
Halloween is probably our family’s favorite holiday. We spend the entire month of October going to various activities, including the pumpkin patch, the spooked-out zoo, parties, and of course, trick-or-treating. When our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a young child, we wondered how it would affect our enjoyment of the holiday. I’m sure the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Halloween is a huge bag full of candy! I assure you that your child can still enjoy Halloween, especially if you make the fun the focus and not the candy.
I was recently reflecting on one of our first Halloweens with diabetes; it was just before we started on the insulin pump. It made me a little upset that my kiddo couldn’t have hot chocolate at a late-night festivity, because it would have meant another injection. At another party, we took home the cupcake and other treats to have the next day at mealtime while his classmates gorged themselves carefree. I have to say that the insulin pump has given him so much more freedom because he can eat at any time without that extra injection.
Enjoying Halloween with Diabetes
Whether your child is on multiple daily injections (MDI) or an insulin pump, here are a few suggestions for helping them enjoy Halloween with type 1 diabetes:
- Volunteer at the school party so that you can give insulin for cupcakes and other treats.
- Hand out small trinkets, such as bouncy eyeballs, rubber bats, pencils, and Play-Doh, instead of candy. Other parents appreciate it, and it might just catch on.
- Allow your child to eat a couple of pieces of candy after trick-or-treating.
- Let your child pick out a dozen or so of their favorite candies to eat with meals over the next week and donate the rest.
- Have the same rules for all of your kids so that the one with diabetes doesn’t feel like they are being treated differently.
- Pull out high-sugar items, such as Smarties and Skittles, to use for treating low blood sugars.
Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating
- Make sure you carry a blood glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and low blood sugar treatments when you haunt the neighborhood.
- Older children who are not accompanied by a parent should use the buddy system and carry a cell phone.
- Your children will be doing a lot of walking. It’s a good idea to check your child’s blood sugar before you set out and during the course of the night.
- You can always reach into the bag and grab a sugary candy to treat a low. One roll of Smarties is 6 grams of carbs.
- And, of course, make sure they follow general safety tips, such as crossing streets with a grown-up, wearing bright clothing or bringing a flashlight to make them visible to drivers, never going inside homes, and always staying with a buddy or adult.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
“Tricks for Treating Your Child with Diabetes on Halloween” originally appeared on Insulet’s Omnipod Suite D blog, now called Podder Talk. In full disclosure, Insulet compensated me for the content that I created for them, but I am not being compensated for sharing it today. The post has been slightly modified for D-Mom Blog.
Updated 10/21.
Growing up my mom was a PWD and even though I was not we still seldom celebrated Halloween. I cannot say I really ever got into the holiday until my grandchildren came by to trick or treat. Now that is some serious fun.